Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Mom is serious about this?" Derek stared at Peter, a mix of confusion and horror. "It was a weird joke!" There was no way this was real.

Peter was sitting there, looking frazzled, which, dear god, it had to be a sign of end times that Peter Hale looked frazzled. "I wish, but since when has Talia ever told a joke?"

"I think she tried once, when I was seven?" Derek had to pace, to move. "Maybe?"

"Indeed. So you know she is serious about this."

"It is insane!"

"Trust me, I am aware!" Peter shouted. "I tried to stop her, but she said that this is the right call. Which yes, on one hand it is. Her leadership is getting stale, and she hasn't given enough of a shit since your father died; other packs are starting to make noises about taking leadership. On the other, she seems determined to get us all killed."

Derek growled at Peter for speaking that way about their alpha, which Peter just waved off. Derek never could intimidate the man. Which fair, how exactly was a beta of the pack, going to intimidate the most terrifying left hand on the west coast?

"Mom misses Dad. We all do." His loss still weighed heavily on Derek, on all the kids. They hadn't realized just how much a calming influence on their mom he had been. With his loss, she had become stricter, more controlling, while at the same time not caring about the bigger picture.

Then she had just declared she was done. Out of nowhere, a regular full moon, no meaning to their family beyond the usual, she had up and said she was retiring, passing her spark onto Laura and they were going to make a big to do of it.

It was a joke, it had to be. But Peter was sitting there on Derek's couch suggesting it was serious. "Peter," Derek looked to him to explain it, like he had so many things in his life. Peter was an asshole, and cold, even cruel, but he had never once lied to Derek. Aside from all the times that he had, but still it was never about stuff concerning their safety.

"My sister in her infinite wisdom is doing this. Which means I have to coordinate security and safety for the family. She thinks this will all be fine. Five representatives each from five packs, to witness the passing of the torch."

Derek stared at him in horror. "They'll try to kill us, to claim the spark."

"Thank you!" Peter shouted. "You, you understand. Why don't Talia and Laura see it? It is so obviously a stupid chance for our enemies to sow chaos and ruin. When I pointed this out, I was being told I was melodramatic. We are going to have to deal with packs wanting to claim the Hale spark, and this many packs gathering together, means hunters." There was a manic gleam to Peter's eyes.

Derek didn't have a problem admitting he was scared. "Can't you stop her?"

A huff, and now Peter was pacing. "I tried. But her bestest buddy Deaton agreed that this was a wonderful plan."

Derek cursed a bit because he and Peter agreed that Deaton was a pain in the ass. They never liked their emissary, but Talia said he was the best Druid and blah blah blah, they tolerated him. Laura liked him too, she was going to lead exactly like their mom had. Stability, and balance. "So what happens?"

"What happens is I am planning security for this shit show," Peter growled. "I have had three meetings with Sheriff Stilinski to plan for this. And likely to have another five. He also agrees with me that this is a logistical nightmare, and trust me, I am sticking your mother with the bill for all the overtime the department will have to log to support this insanity." Peter was muttering mostly to himself, and Derek froze when his uncle pointed at him. "Do you want Parrish?"

"Who?"

"The pale, polite deputy, the hellhound?"

"Like to date? No?" Derek was now so confused. "I've barely met him."

"No, as your bodyguard."

Derek looked at him. "As my what?"

"Everyone in the family gets a guard dog," Peter said. "Non-negotiable."

"Really. You got Mom to get a bodyguard?"

"Almost everyone in the family gets a guard dog," Peter amended. "And she has me, and sadly Deaton. Because as much as I hate him, he will protect Talia with his life. And the sheriff is going to be at my side for most of the event as extra backup."

"I'm fine," Derek dismissed. No one ever cared about him. Laura was the next alpha, Cora was the delightful spitfire baby of all the packs, and Derek…existed. No one would ever try to get to Talia via Derek, half the time they forgot he existed. "I can take care of myself."

"No, you can't," Peter was up in his face. "I do not have time for your middle child bullshit. I need to make sure our family isn't slaughtered. Contact Parrish." Peter stalked off without another word.

Derek rolled his eyes at the drama.

It wasn't that serious.

He wondered if anyone would remember that Talia decided to do all of this on Derek's 30th birthday. He doubted it though. Derek groaned because fuck he really was just the most middle child ever. Derek went to work, even though he generally didn't go to the shop on Wednesday, but he found it soothing there.

Or he generally did.

"Do I want to know why there is a line up outside my store?" He walked in and stared at Erica who was prepping the till, Isaac was pretending to dust. "What is going on? And why are they all wearing scarves and stupid hats? It is in the 70s out there." First week of November was still warm, even for humans.

Erica grinned at him, "we got written up."

"By the police? My business license is in order?"

"Wow, new low there, Derek," Isaac called out.

"Shut up," Derek snapped, "It's already been a morning. Now why are there so many disturbingly groomed beards outside my store?" He ignored the very pointed looks that Erica and Isaac gave his beard. "Just tell me what is going on?"

"We were written up by the L.A. Times as one of the ten best used media shops in the state!" Erica beamed and was bouncing a little bit. She held up a framed piece of newspaper. "Look!"

"I feel like I would have been asked about this?" Derek took it and yup at number seven, there they were. Described as quaint but funky, with a truly excellent variety of cheap romances and rare antiquities. Oh god, it actually said antiquities. And mentioned the brooding owner who looked like he should be on the cover of the romances he sold three for five dollars on Thursdays.

"You did this," Derek glared at Erica.

"Of course I did," she replied, completely unrepentant. "I like working here, and this makes sure the shop stays open."

"We make enough of a profit I actually can employ you and Isaac. I could employ Boyd too, but he decided to go to the academy to be a deputy here. How is he?"

"Good. Misses us, he's coming back for the big ceremony," Erica reassured him. "And your birthday. We didn't forget."

Erica's voice was pointed. She really didn't like Talia. None of his employees did, mainly because Talia didn't love that Derek had decided to open his own business instead of training to become Laura's right hand. Which, why his mom thought he'd even be good at that job, he had no idea. Luckily, Laura's husband was all on board and would be great at it.

Derek looked out the front window, and a few of the people in the line waved to him. He waved back. "Fine. This is all fine. Let them in, I guess?"

"Sure," Erica grinned and Derek rolled his eyes as her tee was nudged down a bit more. "Look, a lot of them are here to see you brood in the stacks, but tits will get us some extra sales. Isaac, do not goddamn scare them away if they say they are buying the records to hang on the wall or melt to turn into bowls. Do not get too invested in explaining fidelity or whatever."

"But -"

Erica pointed, and both Derek and Isaac flinched, "I will say it, don't make me say it."

Derek had no idea what she would say, but frankly he also didn't want to find out. He nodded and so did Isaac. Derek went and opened the door. Isaac put a record on, and it had Erica groaning a bit, because she hated jazz, but the hipsters all looked pleased.

Derek tried to ignore how many photos of him were taken, and kept hearing about how Insta worthy his shop was. "I'm going to the back room," he told Erica.

Once there he breathed easier, because that was way too many people. He answered emails, paid the bills, and checked their Ebay. A grimmoire they were selling was in a bidding war. The lead bidder was also adding threatening messages to scare other bidders off. He should probably ban user StilingRED, but they were about four hundred above what he had paid for the book, and Derek could live with someone not being able to spell styling correctly for that much money.

The door cracked open, "Hey, so you know how I've turned our eighty copies of 50 shades into those stars ornaments we have hanging around the shop?"

"Yeah? Oh fuck, is one of those assholes getting pissy about desecration of books?" Derek stood ready to defend Erica from the scarf brigade.

"No?" Erica looked stunned, "they are asking if they can buy them? Can they buy them?"

Derek grinned, happy people saw Erica's worth, her paper folding skills were really coming along. "They absolutely can. Three dollars each, or four for ten? Shop gets one dollar from each, you get the rest."

"Oh," Erica smiled at him, "thanks, boss." She disappeared and he went back to work, until lunch. He went out and they were still busy, not quite line up busy, but busier than a Wednesday should be. He looked around and almost all the stars in the front window were gone.

Derek went behind the counter and hugged Erica. "Way to go," he praised and she nuzzled up against him. His employees weren't wolves, but they were definitely his pack and had picked up the habits, trusted him as a quasi alpha.

He never knew what to do with that, he hadn't set out to save them, but he had been on the scene when Erica had a seizure in the grocery store and been the only one to run to help. He had then proceeded to bully and scare her doctors into giving a shit and got her on a new drug that had drastically improved her life. Boyd followed wherever Erica went, and hadn't known what to do when Derek supported him, praised him since all he had from his family was shame and disappointment. Boyd had also made it clear that if Derek moved halfway around the world, he was going to be followed by them.

Isaac lived above the shop ever since Derek had stumbled across him getting shit kicked by a bastard who had turned out to be his dad.

The three of them kept saying they were Derek's pack, even if he couldn't turn them.

Derek made sure to warn them never to talk like that in front of his mom or Laura. He didn't think his family would understand.

Hell, he didn't even understand it sometimes, he just knew he would die to protect the three of them. He manned the front when Erica wanted to go for lunch, and he let Isaac put on the weirder jazz albums which he hoped would get rid of the people, but this crowd actually seemed into it. One guy was very enthusiastically talking to Isaac, and Derek was pretty sure he saw numbers being exchanged. He glared at the bearded guy a bit, and the man was at least smart enough to buy three albums.

The sales were nice, but he hoped they wouldn't be dealing with this influx of people for a long time. When they closed up that night, the laptop dinged and it seemed that StilingRED had scared off the other bidders and won the grimmoire. He made a note to make sure in the morning that the payment cleared and would send it off when the calendar aligned for sending off such a magical object.

Derek went home, reheated something that didn't taste good anymore but wasn't awful, and spent some time reorganizing his to be read pile. He very deliberately ignored any message from his family. He wanted nothing to do with the retirement ceremony, the passing of the alpha spark to Laura. It was all a big show that he didn't give a fuck about.

A couple days later though when Peter had him backed up against the science fiction novels, he thought maybe he should give a fuck. "Calm down," he suggested.

There was a snarl, and Peter's eyes were blue. Plus side, that scared away today's batch of hipsters, so he'd buy the guy a thank you muffin. "Calm down? Calm down? I would love to calm down. I would love to sit back, with a martini and a hot man at my feet being perfectly calm until his perfect cocking sucking mouth made me uncalm in a very satisfying way."

"Wouldn't we all?" Isaac muttered as he flipped a record. Derek gave him a look over Peter's shoulder. "I'll just go…not here," Isaac decided.

Erica was at the till openly reading porn. She gave Peter an unseen thumb's up.

This was Derek's life that he had somehow chosen. "Peter, we all want that," Derek tried to soothe.

"Oh, you wouldn't know a decent martini if it knocked on your door and said hello sailor."

"Well it can't get us drunk, so what the hell is the point?"

There was an exasperated sigh as Peter at least let go. "The point is the vibes and mouth feel. There is something about drinking an ice cold dirty martini that is satisfying." Peter adjusted the lines of his suit. "But that is not the point of this discussion. Today's point is, I heard from a little bird you have not engaged in the services of a bodyguard yet."

"No, of course not, it's stupid."

"Is it? Because three hearts were left on the front porch. Rabbit, Deer, Fox. And yes in the correct placement."

"Shit."

"Boss?" Erica actually put her book down. "Why do you have serious face?"

"Because that is a warning," Derek said, "an open threat. I'll call that guy you mentioned."

"He has been contracted already. Sheriff Stilinski is out of people to aid us, on duty and off. He and I have every single deputy planned to the last second."

"Do you have a bodyguard?"

"I will be with the esteemed sheriff for 90% of the time during all of Talia's idiotic whim. It counts enough. You, however, will now contact this service company." A card was handed to him. "All former military, likely war criminals. So that will be fun. Get a bodyguard, or I will get you one."

"Erica is scary," Derek said. "Can she count?"

"No," Peter said and there was a last snap of teeth as the man stalked out.

Derek sighed and went over to the counter. He must look like shit because Erica hugged him. "I can put on a brown wig and we can call me Marie, and I'll be your bodyguard."

"Thanks." He nuzzled her, breathed in. "You smell horny."

"It's a good book," she replied. "Boyd is home day after tomorrow. I will not be coming into work that day."

"Fair."

"But that night, we have plans for you. Of the birthday variety, and no you do not get out of them. Your mom's stuff is ruining the day, so we are going to do it beforehand."

"Thanks. I'm going to scope out our competition."

"Have fun at the library."

Derek nodded and went to the library, bought a few of their decommissioned books to support them, stopped a guy who was watching porn on the public computers because come on. The community board on the way out was a mess, and Derek couldn't help himself. He pulled down anything that was expired and organized it so you could actually see stuff. Mostly babysitters offering services, a couple art classes, and one paper that made him pause.

It was a person available for serving papers, being a witness at weddings and divorces, notary capabilities, private investigating, bodyguard, and dog walking. Twenty dollars an hour except for dog walking which was ten.

It was written in comic sans. Little comic illustrations all over it to match each job.

Derek stared at the phone number on it. He needed a bodyguard and if he didn't get one soon, he was very scared for what Peter might do. Whoever this person was, would hopefully be enough to placate Peter. He called.

"Hey, you got Stiles, leave me a message and I'll call you back."

"I need to hire your bodyguard services for the upcoming Hale Alpha Ceremony. This is Derek Hale, I'll be at my bookstore Found Endings. Call me or stop by by the end of the day." There, that should suffice.

He made his way back to the shop and sighed, because it seemed Peter only temporarily scared off the people and they were back.

Profits, he tried to remember the profits even as people flirted badly with him. About ten minutes before close the bell above the door jingled and a man walked in. Similar to the ones who had invaded, but also not. "We close soon," Derek warned.

"Yeah, I can read the door, thanks."

"Lovely," Derek smiled at the guy. "Comic books are third aisle back that way."

"They're called graphic novels."

"No, some are graphic novels, if their publication was in the longer form, like Fun Home, Persepolis, Pyongyang. Your Supermans and the like are comic books that were collected, and thus are comic books, or if you want to feel better about it trades."

"Are you shitting on Superman? Because you prefer Batman, or because you are a book snob? You probably judge women who read those sexy fantasy books don't you?"

"Only if they masturbate in my bathroom there," he replied. "We are closing, please come back another time." Or never, never was an option too.

"Sorry, staying. I got a call from Derek Hale needing my services."

Derek blinked. Looked at the guy. "He changed his mind. Bye."

"Okay, sure. Then I'll stay and lodge my complaint about not receiving my grimmoire yet. I won that bid a few days ago, and no shipping notice yet."

"You're StilingRED?" Derek stared some more at the guy. "I'm refunding your money."

"What? I need that book."

"Clearly not enough to understand that that particular grimmoire cannot be shipped, until the new moon in the last month of fall."

"It's fine so long as you draw three counter clockwise circles on the spine in mountain ash mixed with holy water."

Derek flashed his eyes and dropped his fangs. "Yeah, but I can't do that."

"And you didn't have the mental capacity to look at the delivery address and email to see if I wanted a local pickup?"

"We've been invaded by hipsters."

"I'm sorry?" That got a look. "Oh, okay, actually I'll accept that as an excuse. But why do hipsters care about a werewolf ceremony?"

"They don't," Derek went and flipped the closed sign. "Two things converged. Hipsters and ceremony." He pointed to the article that Erica had hung up. "I am really hoping they are done soon. Both."

"So is my dad. Though I don't think he knows about the hipster invasion, just the ceremony. I swear if rival packs or hunters don't kill Talia, he might. This has been hell for him. Plus side killer amounts of overtime, and I almost have him convinced he and I need to go away for a week camping."

"Who is your dad?"

"Huh, okay not the smartest Hale, because the context clues in that sentence were enough. I'm Stiles Stilinski. Son of Sheriff Stilinski. And your bodyguard." There was a wave.

"No," Derek decided, "I choose death." Not that he would die, he wasn't of interest to anyone who would be coming for chaos or the alpha spark. "But here, let me get you the book." He went and got the grimmoire. "Here you go."

"Thanks, and sorry I insulted you. You employ Erica so you have to have some brains, she's awesome."

"You know Erica?"

"We went to high school together. I went to Berkley after, and we didn't see each other much. But social media says she loves working here and is healthier so maybe you aren't a complete idiot. But listening to my dad, can't figure out your place in all of this."

"Because I don't have one. You are right, I'm not the smart Hale, I'm not the strong Hale, or the fast one, or the heir. I'm just there." Derek shrugged. "Which is why I don't need a bodyguard."

"Yeah, sorry, but you do," Stiles said, "and I need the money. Do you know what a criminology degree gets you, if you don't go to law school or enforcement?"

"A shitty podcast?"

"Tried, can't stay on topic."

"So dog walking then."

"And serving papers, that's honestly fun. You'll see tomorrow."

"Why am I seeing tomorrow?" Derek was confused.

"Because I have work to do and your body to guard, so you are coming with me."

"I have work."

"You get to hide from the hipsters if you are with me."

That was a decent point. Derek nodded. "Alright. Give me your address and I'll meet you."

"I am temporarily living with my dad." Stiles smelled a bit embarrassed. Derek opened his mouth, but couldn't get a word out before Stiles started rambling. "I could live with my best friend, but he has like a house, an actual freaking house at twenty three, and offered me the little suite above the garage. It felt worse than just moving back into my childhood room, while I tried to figure out the mess that is my life. It is super common you know after school to move back in with your family. Especially when it turns out a lot of the plans you make at sixteen turn out to be bullshit?"

"I wanted to be a fireman."

"Firemen are cool," Stiles offered. "Why didn't you? Actually werewolf fireman is solid because smoke inhalation won't actually fuck you up as quickly. Also not gonna lie, wolfy, you look like you would rock the calendar."

"That's why," Derek said. "Cora pointed out they'd make me be naked in it every year. I do not like naked."

"What you wear swim trunks in the shower? How do you wash your dick? You need to wash your dick, otherwise it gets gross and infected and no one will want to play with it."

So, this human was utterly insane then.

"No, I meant naked for public consumption. When home alone I'm naked a lot." And it seemed the insanity was infecting him. He needed to get back on track. "I don't know where the sheriff lives."

"But Peter's been over like constantly? Said he hates the station too many interesting smells that distract him. Which weird it mostly smells like sweat, stale coffee, and desperation."

"Peter likes scents like fear and desperation, it means there are people he can manipulate." Peter once had sat Derek down and categorized human scents into useful versus unuseful, and it had been a fascinating and slightly sociopathic list. Love had been on the not useful list. He had hugged Peter after hearing that, which had lead to Peter explaining how see a few words can manipulate the feeling too much, rendering it useful to use, but not useful to have.

Derek was pretty sure his family needed a lot of therapy.

Not him, he was fine, but the rest of them were a mess.

"Yeah, I'll be happy when the ceremony is done and Peter isn't bugging my dad. My dad does not need that much crazy in his life. I bring enough." Derek could believe that. Stiles rattled off the address and left. Derek honestly looked around his shop to make sure everything was in place, because a whirlwind had just come through and it should have left a mark, but no, it was just the energy of Stiles, the shop was fine.

His loft was quiet, well mostly Isaac was reading on his couch. "You have an apartment. The one I gave you."

"My dad is in town, seeing some buddies, said he'd stop by."

"I can have Peter kill him. Peter owes me a favour."

Isaac smiled a bit at that. "Thanks. He hasn't been back in two years. Why now Derek? It can't be a coincidence, the timing. And he has military training."

Derek went to the kitchen where there was take out on the counter. He grabbed a container of some sort of deep friend and too sweetly sauced unknown meat and brought it back over. "Hunters wouldn't take him on. He is too unstable and they have enough of their own fucking idiots." He ate a bit, and grunted in satisfaction, it was from the place that everyone but him considered the weaker of the takeout establishments. "But also they could have hired him as a distraction? Or one of the wolf packs." Derek sent Peter a text to warn him that Isaac's father was in town.

/I'll add it to the board/

Well that wasn't a disturbing text at all. They ate and watched some t.v. and Derek clued into something. "Did you go to school with the sheriff's kid?"

"Stiles? Yeah," Isaac nodded. "He and Erica were friendly. We had a class or two together. He was mostly busy with Scott McCall and the Lacrosse team. He only ever played a couple games. Mostly warmed the bench."

That tracked with how awkward the guy had looked in the shop. "He's the only bodyguard I could find."

Isaac tried not to laugh, and it did not go well. Derek just flipped him off and cleared away the food. Music was put on and they read in companionable silence. Isaac's phone started buzzing a lot and Isaac hand shook as it turned a page.

Derek grabbed the phone and face timed the number that was leaving all the messages. When Isaac's father's face appeared on screen, Derek flashed his eyes and teeth and then hung up.

"He's going to think we're fucking."

"You're pack," Derek replied.

"Thought we weren't supposed to say that," Isaac was watching him. "You made it very clear that you are a beta, and we can't be your pack."

"My mom isn't here," Derek said and lifted an arm. Isaac was there and snuggled against him. He scented his friend. "If it is just coincidence that he is here, then I'll stop him from getting near you, and if it is about the ceremony, well he'll have Peter to contend with, and you'll never have to worry about him again."

"Do you think Laura will make a good Hale alpha?"

Derek was quiet. He loved Laura, and she had been trained her whole life for this. But she was so like their mom, the best and the worst of her. He honestly wasn't looking forward to submitting to her, but he would. It would be fine. Even if she had idly mentioned he could find a mate in another pack, strengthen bonds. Not like he had had a lot of luck dating in Beacon Hills.

Date a couple psychopaths, and your family never let you forget it.

Peter had framed the security camera footage of him killing Kate Argent and had it on his mantle. And the guy wondered why people never stayed the night. Murder photos were not a turn on for most people.

"Derek?"

Derek realized he had started to squeeze Isaac a bit too tightly. "Do you think murder is sexy?"

"I think maybe you've spent a bit too much time with Peter recently," Isaac offered.

Derek had to laugh at that. He nuzzled Isaac again. "Tell me what Erica is planning for my birthday."

"No, she is way scarier than you."

Derek growled which lead to Isaac just booping his nose. Rude. He snapped his teeth and Isaac just booped again. It was nice to have company in the loft. It was the one thing he missed from home, pack cuddles and the feeling of warmth that other bodies gave.

In the morning he drove up to a house that was worn, but in decent repair all in all. At the front door it smelled of metal, and coffee, and a stack of well dug in emotions.

And Peter.

He knocked very loudly and eventually it was answered. Derek brushed by Stiles, and followed the scent.

"Good morning is a viable option," was said to his back and Derek ignored it. He was in a living room and stared.

Peter was under a Star Wars quilt, snoring. He did not know Peter could fall deeply asleep enough to snore, the man was always on edge. Wolves healed quickly, but he could see shadows under Peter's eyes. Derek went over and adjusted the blanket around Peter's shoulders a bit more.

He looked over at Stiles who was frowning, clearly surprised to see Peter on his couch. Stiles opened his mouth, but a man appeared behind him and covered it. Derek was pointed at and he followed. In the kitchen, a coffee cup was jammed into Stiles' hand and he was handed one more gently.

"Morning, I don't think we've really met," the sheriff said. "Noah."

Derek shook the hand that was held out. "Derek. Why is Peter asleep on your couch?"

"Hiding from your mom," Noah replied. He was putting a watch on, checking pockets, was clearly headed out for shift. "She has decided to do this out on the preserve by the Nembon?"

"Nemeton," Derek corrected. "In the middle of the woods, where there are hundreds of places for people to lay traps or hide or plan an assassination."

"Yup." The sheriff also had shadows under his eyes. "Son, I have to ask, has she suffered a concussion recently? Maybe brain swap? Like a Freaky Friday thing? Because we didn't know each other well, but this is nuts."

Derek felt helpless. "I don't know, she doesn't talk about this sort of stuff with me. I'm not interesting enough."

"Hmm, own a successful business in town, employ people you saved from their crappy lives. Volunteer fireman, I don't know, seem pretty interesting to me," Noah smiled at him. "Let Peter sleep, he can lock the door when he leaves. Because if that man does not get sleep, he might start murdering people. Beginning with your mother, and I do not need that bloodbath on my hands. I need to go talk to the mayor. Again, about how he doesn't need to add himself and press to the 'event of the century'. I swear to god, I am actually going to take all my overtime from this mess and go to Hawaii."

"Dad, you hate flying."

"Fine, I'll drive to Mexico. I don't care, so long as there is a pool, or ocean, or somewhere for me to sit with a book I won't read, a cocktail I won't finish, and some gorgeous men and women to stare at that I won't flirt with, because I don't remember how to."

"Or we can go camping up in Washington for a few days?"

"Or we can go camping for a few days," the sheriff agreed. "Oh and Derek, because people will forget on the day, happy early birthday."

"How did you know?"

"Currently have all the basic info of the Hale pack memorized. Need it if I end up having to put out a missing person's report. Have a good day, you two. Stiles, remember we're paying you to serve those papers."

"You got it, Daddio. Love you."

Derek watched the sheriff hug and functionally pack nuzzle his head against Stiles and he was off. Derek stared at Stiles. Stiles stared back. "So."

"So," Stiles agreed.

They stood there and finished their coffee. When Stiles finished he nodded, "right, shall we go walk some dogs?"

"Stiles, do you maybe want to get dressed first?"

Derek watched as Stiles realized he was in boxers and one sock. He could scent embarrassment, but also amusement. He smiled a bit as Stiles gave him finger guns and casually headed upstairs. Derek strolled back to the living room, where his uncle was clearly awake. "Really?"

"You are lucky your mother ignores you." Peter looked down. "What did they put on me?"

"It's called Star Wars. One of the largest film franchises ever."

"Yes I have heard of Star Wars, thank you. I am just wondering why a house with two grown men has a blanket with that hideous logo on it."

"Sorry, that public servants and a guy not long out of college don't have Hermes blankets."

"My quilt is handmade by an independent circle of witches from the highlands of Scotland."

Derek just rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, you are very impressive."

The blanket was flung off and they both stared because Peter's ankle was cuffed to the couch. "What the fuck?"

Stiles slid back into the room, jeans and a red hoodie on. "Oh, Dad was worried in the middle of the night you would go and murder Talia. And like, he knows you could pull it off, but he'd have to then arrest you and he said you'd be cranky in the prison orange jump suit, so yeah. He chained you up. I said it was kinky, but bad because he didn't ask for consent."

"What did he say to that?" Derek stared at the chain, utterly shocked that someone had actually gotten the jump on Peter. It was fascinating. And hilarious. He did not give a shit that Peter would likely kill him - he took a photo and sent it to Cora.

Derek looked at Stiles who was blushing. "He uhh said, consent was important when it was a loving and equal relationship, but sometimes you just gotta tie someone up, and deal with the consequences later. Which was then followed by, god I miss your mom. Which made me question a whole lot, because that chain there, is not police issue."

They all stared at the chain. Huh.

Stiles went over and unlocked it. Peter stood, stretched. "Derek, you mother is planning to talk to you about your role in the ceremony."

"My role is to stand there, and then kneel to Laura once the spark passes to her. My role is to be ignored otherwise."

"You are so dramatic."

"You had to be chained to a couch!" Derek glared. "I still think this is bullshit. The hearts could have been a prank."

"Do I look like I think this is a prank?" Peter stepped forward. "I would love for it to be a prank. A jape, a fun little trick. But I can smell it, Derek. The danger of this moment, and my dear sister refuses to see it. Something is coming for our family, little one, and none of us are prepared for the change it will wrought. Now, I need to go to the preserve and play how many traps have already been laid, and dismantle them. Derek, stop moping and deal with the reality of the moment."

"Hey, he did! He hired me, and I'll keep him safe."

Derek watched as Stiles picked up an aluminum bat from against the wall. Oh god, his bodyguard was an idiot. He waited for Peter to tear Stiles to shreds, verbally, potentially physically.

But there was just a nod. "He managed to do one thing right at least. I'm off." But he wasn't, because Derek watched Peter gently fold the Star Wars quilt and hang it over the arm of the couch. The chain and cuffs were laid on top of it and then he was gone.

"What is going on with my uncle and your dad?" Derek was completely lost.

Stiles shrugged, "Hell if I know, and I am pretty sure I don't want to know. I think a fair bit of it is mutual anger at people not being reasonable and following their recommendations. I mean they are both law enforcement when you think about it. Just, you know, handle it in very different ways."

Derek winced because it wasn't right, but it also wasn't wrong. "I still think he is exaggerating the threat."

Stiles shrugged. "Maybe. But maybe not. Dad said his spidey sense is tingling. And Peter is freaking out, he doesn't seem the freaking sort. Unless it is freaking in bed." There was a snicker. "Am I right?"

"That's my uncle, so I honestly don't want to think about it," Derek shook his head. "Say the threat is real. How are you going to keep me alive?"

"With this?" Stiles held up the baseball bat. "And my quick wit and fast reflexes."

Derek shot a hand out and watched Stiles rear back, trip over the coffee table, and almost brained himself with his own bat. "I'm going to die, and honestly I'll deserve it for hiring you out of desperation."

"Hey!" Stiles got to his feet. "I'm keeping you alive. Don't get paid if you die. And I need the money. Love my dad, but really want an apartment."

Derek sighed. "Well, I'm going to work."

"No you aren't, I have too many jobs today to guard you there, remember? So you are coming with me. First up, we are walking three dogs. Hey, do werewolves get along with dogs?"

"Of course we do." Derek kinda maybe hated this guy. "Dogs are great."

"Great!"

They headed out and it seemed it was mostly neighbours and that Stiles had been walking these dogs since high school. And they felt territorial about Stiles.

Derek dodged, "you didn't say one of them was a dalmatian - dalmatians are dicks."

"Firehose is a sweetie pie, aren't you buddy?" Stiles crooned and there was a happy bark. Which was followed by another attempt to bite Derek. "Hey, play nice."

"He doesn't seem to be listening to you."

"Good because I was talking to you. These are poor defenceless puppies and here you are glaring at them with eyebrows of doom. Chill out, wolfman."

Derek shot those supposed eyebrows of doom at Stiles who did not seem to care in the least. At the dog park the three dogs were let off leash and they formed a circle around Derek herding him away from Stiles. Other dogs at the park thought this was a game and decided to help so he was stuck with ten dogs around him all barking and growling.

He could see Stiles taking video of it. Awesome.

One german shepard snarled and Derek was done. His eyes flashed blue, and he snarled back with fangs dropped. The strange dogs ran away and the ones that Stiles was walking all rolled and showed their bellies, even the bastard dalmation. "Damned right," Derek muttered. But he sat on the ground and gave them all pets, because dogs deserved love. Even dickhead dalmations.

Stiles came over, leashed the dogs and they walked them back. Next up was stopping at the sheriff's department where Stiles was handed a stack of notices. "Right, this requires subtlety because people don't like being served papers. We need to make you subtle. Stealthy."

"I am a werewolf, I know how to step quietly."

"Okay," there was an eye roll, charming. "But see you are pretty, and that scares people. Wait, how do you feel about being a stripper gram?"

"A what?"

"A stripper? We distract them with your hot and boom, pay your parking tickets."

"No," Derek glared at the idiot, his twentieth glare. Honestly, he was worried about eye strain at this point.

"Okay, well if any of them run, you wolf out and grab them for me. First stop is…" Stiles got quiet, and winced. "I guess the vet's office."

"Doctor Deaton?" Derek was filled with inner glee at the thought of his mom's emissary getting served. Maybe that would be enough to call off or at least delay this ceremony. "What did Deaton do?"

"Nothing, that guy is squeaky clean."

"Ehh," was Derek's reply because the man always muttered on and on about balance, and sometimes balance was messy. They took Stiles' jeep, which did not sound good. He didn't bother pointing it out though, because Stiles did not look like he had the money to fix it anyways.

When they arrived at the clinic, Derek was almost bouncing in his seat.

"Okay, why are you giddy?"

"Because Dr. Perfect Deaton is about to get slapped down, by a scrawny weird little freak and I get to see it. Can I take video for Peter and Cora, or is that illegal?"

"You think we are here for Deaton? Sorry, pal, it's for his tech. Who is my best friend."

"Dammit, the one good thing in my life, and it was a lie?"

"You assumed, not my fault. Also I think Peter is right, you are way too dramatic."

"Peter is deflecting. He is the most dramatic one of the family." Derek rolled his shoulders a bit. "You sure there isn't paperwork on Deaton in there?" It would solve at least three problems in his life.

"Sorry, big guy, I am just here to serve my best friend."

Oh, that sucked. Derek gave Stiles a sympathetic shoulder pat that almost knocked the guy over. His bodyguard almost got taken out by a vaguely friendly gesture. If the threat was real, Derek was gonna die. Inside the clinic, he could feel the mountain ash as Stiles opened the gate. He followed when Stiles held it open and they went in back.

"Hey, Scottie," Stiles called. "Deaton."

Both men looked up from where they were doing inventory.

"Derek," Deaton seemed to stumble over the name, like he had almost forgotten Derek existed. Always fun to know that he didn't matter to the people in charge of stuff. "Did Talia have a problem?" Deaton quickly pulled out his phone, but there were no messages. "Oh! You want a role in the ceremony?" There was a smug little smile. "I am sure we can fit you in somehow. Hold something."

"Like a toddler ring bearer in a wedding?" Stiles was making a face. He turned to Derek, "what was with that micro aggression? Because that was full micro aggression."

"My mother's emissary has issues with me," Derek explained.

"My issues are more with your inability to recognize people's true meanings, than you, in and of yourself."

"Yes, it is my fault that when I was a teenager, I was manipulated by an older woman because my family never bothered to pay attention to me. Sorry, Deaton, Peter made me get therapy about it."

"You've been to therapy, you don't seem the type. No offense." Stiles was looking at him almost impressed. "Good for you."

Derek didn't mention that therapy was mostly buying him a hooker in Mexico and then he and Peter hunting down Kate and killing her for her attempts to destroy their family. Also killed a few other things along the way. It had worked. He had mostly resolved those feelings. "Hmm," Derek said as an almost agreement. He stared at Deaton. "Mom's not going to fuck you. You've wanted her for so long, god it has to hurt that even with Dad gone now, she won't be thinking yeah Deaton's what will see me through."

"Are you so sure about that?"

"Dude, what is going on right now?" He heard the other guy say. It must be Scott.

"I have no clue but it feels very soap opera, and I am here for the supernatural drama. Oh here, by the way have something for you." He watched as Stiles oh so casually held out the envelope and the guy took it. "Sorry pal, Dad hated to do it, but you gotta pay your parking tickets."

"Oh, geez, really?" the guy groaned. "Dude, you couldn't have lost this?"

"I mean I could have but then I wouldn't get paid, and I need the money. I want to move out."

"I said you could live above our garage!"

"Because I am the best friend loser in your sitcom life, but in my life, I am the hero, so like they don't really work together. All good, and it isn't a real summons, Scot, you know Dad wouldn't do that to you. But you gotta do down and pay them, or it will be a real summons, okay?"

"Okay. But you are coming over for dinner, right?"

"Can't. On duty guarding his ass."

Derek saw Stiles gesture to him, but didn't pay too much attention focused on Deaton. Tried to put puzzle pieces together. Deaton was giving that stupid Deaton smile and fine, you know what, who cared? Not him.

He did, but also he didn't have the energy for all of this right now. "We done here?"

"Yup," Stiles was looking at all of them. "Hey, Deaton, you are a big part of the shit show that this ceremony is, right?"

"I would hardly call the strongest alpha in the country passing her spark on, a shit show."

Stiles rolled his eyes and okay fine, Derek didn't hate him. "Shit storm then," Stiles said, "Now the logistics of having all those people watching in the woods, with where the Nemeton is, means instead of just a crowd organized like a church wedding, you are going for spoke wheels, around the tree stump. Talia and Laura on top of it. You change the venue hoping that passing on that much magic would awaken the murdered tree?"

Derek stared at Stiles because his voice had gone just a bit harder, colder. There was a stillness to the guy that Derek didn't think he was capable of. And Derek noticed that Deaton went also very still at that.

"We have a lot of work today," was what Deaton said in clear dismissal.

"Ooh, called that," Stiles smiled. It was not a friendly smile. "Scott, tell Deaton to smarten up and that whatever he is planning on top of Talia's extremely bullshit and stupid plan is going to stop."

"Uhh, sir, Stiles says you should stop?" Scott looked incredibly awkward. "And look, I know he's a pain in the ass, but he's always right about this sort of stuff."

"If he was right about stuff, his spark would have actually manifested more."

Derek was watching Stiles as that was said and the guy was good, the flinch almost imperceptible, but the heart beat doesn't lie and it spiked as that was said. Derek stepped forward and growled at Deaton. He moved right in front of his bodyguard to protect him, "I will tell Mom," he said.

That got a snort from everyone in the room, which fair, he sounded like a tattle tale child. And his mom would never believe him over Deaton.

"Let's go, lots of summons today. Deadbeats abound," Stiles said cheerfully. "And Deaton, isn't it weird how my magic seemed so stifled when you were training me, but when I went away to school, all sorts of things I never told you about happened?"

Derek watched Deaton's hands, because he had learned long ago the truth was in Deaton's hands and they gripped the table tightly. Oh, that was something. He dragged Stiles out as Scott shouted that he would absolutely pay his tickets.

Once they were in Stiles' jeep he looked at the guy, "you are a spark?"

"Oh fuck no," Stiles laughed, "that was complete bullshit, I didn't do fuck all while away. I did magic one time under great duress to protect my friends while we were at the Jungle."

"The gay club?" He knew a lot of teens ended up at it, because of the club's very loose interpretation of legal age.

"Yeah, Allison and Lydia wanted to go dancing. And their boyfriends were like not without us, and I went along because mostly bored? I hate dancing. Only there was a monster there, an omega werewolf. It went nuts, was gunning for Lydia. I had stolen a jar from Deaton because he pissed me off. I didn't think just poured what was in it in my hand and tossed it in the air. Formed a perfect mountain ash circle around the wolf. I was twenty feet away. First and last magic I ever did. Peter came and the wolf was taken away, I assume murdered."

"But Deaton tried to train you." Derek couldn't picture that. "Or he said he would, but he made it so confusing and byzantine and cryptic that it went nowhere?"

"You got it. Fun fact, I came out to my dad that night, and it is hilarious because he told me I wasn't gay, which okay yeah I am bi, and said I wouldn't be dressed like that if I was gay." Stiles laughed, "like shots fucking fired or what. Which okay, yeah, the top I was wearing was stupid if I had been intending to try to hook up. Which I had no game at the time, I think I have some game now? Better clothes anyways. Not by much because broke and living with my dad but -"

"Do you ever shut up? How do you manage to do stakeouts if you talk this much?"

The car was finally turned on and they headed out. "Rude."

The drive was quiet and eventually Derek couldn't help himself. "What happened when you properly told your dad you were bi?" He couldn't picture the sheriff being awful, but you never know.

"He sort of nodded, and paused. Confirmed that at the club that had been trying to get out of trouble not actually coming out, and then hugged me. Said the bi flag colours were ass, but he'd still get a sweatshirt in them to support me. And at least being bi was easier now than when he had been my age. And I thought he was talking about homophobia in general, but nope it was a mutual coming out. We ate a stupid amount of curly fries to celebrate."

"The sheriff is a good man. It is shocking that Peter can tolerate being around him. He always says he is allergic to good people."

Stiles laughed at that, but Derek was serious, Peter regularly said that, and that good people were weak, and deeply uninteresting. If they weren't a little psycho what was the point? Derek sat in the jeep and frowned. "Tonight my friends are throwing me a birthday party. I guess you are coming along?"

"I guess so," Stiles agreed. "Until this is done, you are stuck with me."

Derek sighed. "Oh joy, my life is full of wonder."

"You are just the most middle child sourwolf ever."

"My family forgot my birthday and planned all this insane bullshit to happen on that day, so in all of werewolfdom, the day will be celebrated as Laura's alpha birth, as Talia's day of grace. So yeah, you know what I am absolutely that middle child right now."

"Fair," Stiles said after a moment. "Didn't you mention that?"

"Sure, but the stars and portents are aligned, and you never liked a big birthday anyways." Derek rolled his eyes a bit. "It is what it is."

"Still shitty though. But honestly, Talia always struck me as just a little shitty. Dad too."

Derek blinked. "Really?"

"Yup, a bit too, I am noble and in charge and don't you worry your little human head. A lot of just better than you crap. And like sure she is on a lot of stuff, but also can't help but notice, she doesn't actually deal with much. Her left hand, right hand, and emissary take the brunt, while she stands there and takes the credit."

Derek started to protest, Talia was a strong alpha but also as he thought about it, Stiles kind of had a point. And she was down a right hand, since that had been his dad, and that is when she started planning things herself and it went to shit.

His dad would have never let this happen on Derek's birthday. He missed his dad so damn much some days, and no one in the family actually talked about it.

They were a brilliant pack, but he was realizing they were a shit family. At this point he was closest with Peter, and that was fucking pathetic. Derek stayed mostly in his head as they drove around town and Stiles delivered summons. On the last one, he had to step in and save his bodyguard from being kicked into next week.

If there really was a threat, Derek was going to die.

"Right, that's done, so where is your party happening at?"

Derek had no clue and checked his phone which contained a text from Erica saying he was needed at the store. "Fake surprise party at the store."

"Fake surprise?"

"I hate surprise parties, Erica loves them. So I know it is happening, but let her jump out and yell surprise."

"Okay, that is all sorts of adorable. I didn't get you a gift, so like I'll give you two percent off my services, sound good?"

"So very generous." They parked in back, but Derek knew to go through the front door, which had a sign on it, closed for private event. Isaac waved at him through the glass and a hand yanked him down behind the counter. "Ready?"

"Sure," Stiles was grinning, "this is so stupid. I love it."

Derek opened the door and watched his friends stand up and calmly say surprise as Erica pulled a string and balloons dropped from where they had been rigged at the ceiling. It was absurd and stupid, and fine maybe he was smiling.

Boyd came over hand out, and Derek ignored that, pulled the man in tight for a hug. "Missed you," Derek said.

"Me too," Boyd agreed. "I'm doing well, the sheriff already promised me a spot on the force here."

"Good," Derek groaned as Erica hit his back and was squeezing him tightly. "Hey. Thanks. I was completely surprised."

"I know! I plan the best surprise parties. Hey wait. Batman?" That was screeched right into his ear as Erica switched person to hug and squeezed Stiles so tightly it looked like the guy might pop. Isaac was next and Derek hugged him too. Isaac was shyer, than he should have been and Derek fucking knew the guy's dad had sent more messages.

Derek squeezed him tightly, but didn't say anything, it would upset Isaac to deal with it at Derek's birthday party.

"Jeez Catwoman, moving boxes of shitty romances has made you strong. Let me go!" Stiles managed to get away, and Derek saw him looking around. "Where is everyone else?"

Derek was confused, "what everyone else?" He counted which was easy. He had three friends and apparently a Stiles now, and they were all accounted for.

"Your family? Your other friends?" Derek wondered what was on his face to make Stiles frown like that. "Nevermind, I bring all the party needed, isn't that right Catwoman?"

"Hell yeah," she agreed. "Food is set up in the back."

Stiles nodded, pulled out his phone. "Dangit Scott, hold on for just a sec."

Derek shrugged as Stiles stepped out and he would have gone to get food but his pack was standing right there, eyebrows raised to the heavens. "What?"

"You are dating Stiles?" Erica was grinning. "Could have never seen that coming."

"I'm not, I met him last night. He's my…bodyguard." He had said that out loud. And the looks he got for it were completely valid. "It was him, or someone Peter would choose." That at least got nods of acceptance. "I am aware he will be useless."

Erica frowned at that. "No, he won't be. It just isn't going to be what you expect. Stiles is something. Can't explain it, but honestly yeah he'll guard you."

That was weird. Stiles came back in and they went to the table in the break room that was loaded garlic bread, several different types of pasta, salads. It smelled incredible. Derek loved Italian, and he knew that it was all homemade by his friends. He growled a bit, a low and pleased rumble, pride for his pack.

They weren't wolves, but they understood and preened under the praise.

Plates were filled and taken out into the bookstore and halfway through eating there was banging on the door.

Derek frowned, "can't they read the sign?"

"Sure they can, but see, I don't think we can call it a party with five people." Stiles grinned, stood up, and opened the door, "but we can with another ten!" People poured in, and Derek was very confused but it was clear his pack recognized some of them, and he knew Scott from this morning.

It got loud in the shop.

"Well, isn't this festive?"

Derek stared, "Peter?" Peter was standing there with the sheriff who wasn't in uniform. Derek for a moment had the childlike thought of confusion, realizing the uniform wasn't actually permanently affixed to the man's body. "What are you doing here?"

"I was given to understand that if no family showed up to your birthday party, any evil being planned for Talia's ceremony would be nothing in comparison to what Stiles' wrath would bring about."

"He promised me, I didn't have to care about my diet, and that lasagna looks amazing."

The sheriff gave Derek a one armed hug, and a small box, which Derek didn't know what to do with that. How had the guy managed to get him a gift with this little notice? He felt a bit helpless as Erica took it and added it to the small pile by the till.

Isaac put some records on and Derek went back to his plate. The bookstore filled with happy noise of people chatting and eating, and he just stayed in what Erica had dubbed the birthday throne and people would come chat to him; he tried his best to respond but he honestly wasn't used to this much attention. There was another knock at the front door and Derek stared.

"Oh my god, you actually do puppy eyes, holy shit, those are lethal. You don't need a bodyguard, just stare at the bad guys like that and they'll feel too sad to kill you," Stiles said around some garlic bread.

Derek watched Peter go to the door and let Cora in. "Hey," she said and held up a gift bag, "Uncle Peter asked if I had a soul at all, and after I promised to kill him, I realized why he was asking."

Derek went over and hugged his little sister hard enough, her feet left the ground. "Hi," he said.

"I had bought this like months ago because it was perfect for you. And I had asked Mom about the party for your thirtieth. There is always a party for someone in the packs thirtieth, and she and Laura both looked blank. Then they said you had said you didn't want it."

"What the fuck is going on with them?" Peter was frowning. "They were not this bitchy to you even when your dick almost killed the family."

Derek sighed, "Thanks, for the support?"

"Your dick is that powerful?" Stiles was staring at his crotch. "Neat."

"My dick is a dick, and now I'm talking about my dick in front of my little sister." She had added her gift to the pile and was staring intently at one of the women Stiles had brought. Moving closer to the one that he was pretty sure was Lydia, but Isaac was also moving towards the brunette who had come along and smelled like a hunter. Actually wait, smelled like an Argent. He shot a look to Peter, who he realized had circled and was within striking distance. "You're a hunter," Derek said.

"My family is, I was trained, but it was decided I was too weak to take over as Matriarch. It was supposed to be my Aunt Kate, but —"

"But I killed her," Peter said calmly. "Have a picture of it on my mantle in fact."

"For fuck's sake," Noah groaned, "hypothetically. You hypothetically killed that fucking cunt of a useless evil bitch stain who hopefully is freezing in the seventh ring of hell."

"Way to go all Dante in a bookstore, Dad!" Stiles cheered.

Allison looked awkward, "I wouldn't agree she needed to be avenged. They told me she was a hero, but I read the police report, it was wrong. I refused to join up. I teach self defence classes. I was disowned."

"Then, you can live," Peter said and gave her a friendly shoulder pat. "Good girl not being a homicidal freak."

"Takes one to know one?" she said and Derek waited for her to die, but Peter just smiled and went to get more food.

Derek could feel a lot of eyes on him though. And he didn't want to say it in front of strangers but Cora and Peter were there. "Dad had told Mom, he thought the alpha spark should pass to me. That Laura was great at a bunch of the stuff, but she lacked the compassion a good alpha needs."

"Ouch," Cora winced, "Mom would have hated that."

"They fought, and before they could make up, Dad died." Derek looked at all the strangers, and shrugged, "sorry. You came for free food and got werewolf politics."

"I know a bit because of working with Deaton," Scott explained. "Your mom shows up at night. She's…a lot."

"That is one description of my sister," Peter said. Derek saw that he came with two plates, the second handed to the sheriff. Peter was being considerate. Derek was concerned, but the sheriff seemed to think this was normal. Derek glared at Peter who just smiled back. "But that does explain the insistence of having the ceremony on your birthday, it is in fact a giant fuck you. You weren't mopey middle child after all. Imagine that."

"I want to hurt her," Erica was frowning, and even growled a bit. A silly little human noise, but Derek pulled her close, nuzzled her like pack.

"Oh shit, and that's why Laura hates you," Cora's eyes were huge. "You've built a pack, like you couldn't turn them but you functionally have betas, and she doesn't. She hasn't found anyone who wants to call her alpha that isn't already in the pack."

"Goddamn your family is a soap opera, dude," Stiles crowed. "And likely you are all going to die at your fancy power thing. This is nuts!"

"You are my bodyguard, you are supposed to stop that whole dying thing." Derek oddly felt more relaxed, having said the truth, having Peter and Cora here. Usually he would hate saying stuff in front of strangers, but this group just felt right. "I want birthday cake." He grinned at Isaac, "you made it right?"

There was a bit of a flush, and a shrug. "Let people finish eating first. Open your gifts."

Derek was shoved back to his chair by Erica and things were brought over. Stiles' little group hadn't brought anything, but Derek was just happy for their company. The sheriff's small box contained a leather work bracelet with the phases of the moon. It was gorgeous. "How did you have this on hand?"

"Shit, Dad, that's awesome!"

"Language," Noah replied, and he rubbed his neck awkward at the attention. "I took up leather tooling as a hobby to combat stress a couple years ago. First time actually gave it to anyone."

"It is not terrible work," Peter said.

"Damn, must be good then, for that much praise from you," Noah joked.

"Wait," the girl Cora had been eyeing stomped over. "It is good. I have an online store, in two years I will be opening a storefront, hopefully near here. I am going to sell your stuff."

"Lydia, be nice," Stiles said.

"I am being nice, he deserves to profit over his work."

"We'll talk later kid, what matters is Derek liking his gift." Noah was almost ducking behind Peter, trying to hide from the attention.

"I do," Derek said and Erica helped him put it on. Boyd had got him a nice sweater, Erica, well, he was not opening that with the sheriff and his little sister in the room. Isaac gave him a small sketch of the front of the store. He knew Isaac had done it and smiled. "I'll hang it in my bedroom," he promised.

"Open mine, dumbass," Cora ordered.

Derek smiled and inside was a Dodgers shirt, which he was shocked that she remembered he liked baseball. It also made Stiles hiss about the Mets. "You live in California, why the fuck are you cheering for the Mets?"

"My grandma did and since she was the best human ever, we cheer for the Mets. Right, Dad?" There was a glass raised in salute, and Derek could respect that.

"Thanks, everyone," Derek said, "now cake."

"There is one more gift."

Derek looked at Peter in confusion. "Where?"

"From me."

Derek was confused, "you haven't bought me anything since I was eighteen you took me to the brothel in an attempt to get me over what Kate did to me."

"Yes, yes, well, thirty is supposed to be a big deal in our family." Peter looked at him. "I know she didn't."

"I figured."

"Oh," Cora looked heartbroken and Derek held out an arm, and she tucked against him. "I'm sorry, Der."

Derek just shrugged. "It's fine. Dad would have."

"What's going on?" Scott was the one to ask. "Is there like a super secret werewolf thing when you are thirty. Do you get extra powers?"

"No, lord you are stupid, aren't you?" Peter rolled his eyes. "You have a very well meaning golden retriever idiocy about you. Plus side, bet that means you are good at getting your girlfriend off. But not much use otherwise."

"Hey don't be mean to my best bud," Stiles said.

"Yeah, Stiles will hurt you." Scott was bright red, but the woman sitting next to him did look smug, so guess Peter had been fairly correct.

Derek didn't snort out loud at the thought of Stiles hurting Peter, but it was close.

"Moving on," the sheriff suggested.

Peter nodded. He moved over and knelt in front of Derek, which what the fuck. "You are also an idiot, but I understand how our family has made you such. It is your thirtieth and you deserve the gift."

Derek didn't breath as Peter took off his watch and put it on Derek's wrist. "Peter."

"Time," was all Peter said and he stood. "And that is enough humanity for me. Cora, do you need a drive home?"

"Oh? You're leaving already?" Lydia asked trying for casual and missing the mark.

Cora smiled, "Nah, old man forgets I'm 23, and don't have a curfew anymore."

Peter's eyes flashed at being called old. He started to step forward.

"Peter, come on, let's go check the motel roster. People are already arriving in town for the stupid ceremony, and we can run some checks on the fake names they give. Spy on them a bit. You love spying on people." The sheriff really had Peter's number, because that stopped Peter in his tracks. "I'll even let you creepily stare in windows, do some quality lurking."

Holy fuck, Peter was smiling and happily following the sheriff out. What the hell was all of that? But Derek let it go, as he stared at the watch on his wrist. It should have been his dad's, but it was gone. Instead it was the one that Peter had plucked from his own father's arm that he had ripped off when he had killed the man, when the alpha spark had gone to Talia and Peter was declared her left hand.

It was the bedtime story Peter had told them when they were kids, and that the watch was the only good thing of the old alpha, the only thing Peter had cared about. And he had given it to Derek.

Sentimental bastard.

"Right, let's get this party going!" was said by someone and booze was brought out, and Derek watched as all the people got lit. But he realized eventually, not all —Stiles wasn't drinking. He saw Stiles being hugged by Scott and Stiles patting the guy's head, Stiles completely sober.

Cabs were called for all the people Stiles brought, and Derek bundled his people upstairs to Isaac's apartment.

"Good party?" Erica asked from where she was clinging to his back.

"Yeah," Derek agreed, "best party ever. You should consider event planning."

"No," she grumbled, and her grip tightened. "I have you. No letting go of my alpha."

The other two were muttering agreements to that, but Derek just ignored it all and pushed them towards Isaac's bed. They fell into it in a pile, and Derek smiled a bit at them. "My pups, you are going to feel like shit in the morning."

"Worth it," Isaac muttered and buried his face in Erica's tits, cuddling her like a teddy bear. Boyd wrapped around them both, protecting them even though already mostly asleep.

Derek left, locking the door and downstairs he saw Stiles waving at a cab. "I need to clean up the shop."

"We need to clean up the shop, won't even charge you extra. Cleaning not actually something I do professionally."

Derek rolled his eyes as they went inside. Stiles held a big garbage bag, Derek tossed stuff in. "Thanks, for calling people. I suppose it was good."

"Do you not have friends your age?"

"Used to, but I got too weird after my friend Paige died, and Kate did her bullshit. I went away to school, but never really clicked with anyone. Came home, opened the shop, ended up with the three of them." Derek shrugged, "I don't mind being alone."

"Don't you? Because seemed you had a damned good time tonight."

Derek had had a good time, and he was fairly certain that was Stiles' fault. They put food in the fridge and the garbage out in the alley. Balloons were left to just sort of bob around the store. Lights off, door locked, and they were on the curb. The street was quiet, a bit of fog as the air cooled. "See you tomorrow?" He finally said.

"Bodyguard remember? I gotta be where the body is that needs guarding. So we can go to my house, but honestly good shot Peter ends up chained to my couch again. Dad is really concerned about that guy going full deranged psycho and killing everyone. Dad does not want to deal with that much paperwork."

"My place then, though seriously, I am not going to be killed."

"I know you aren't, I'm there to keep my damsel Derek safe." Stiles was grinning at him.

Derek ignored that and drove them to the loft. He paused at the door. Tilted his head. "Someone has been here. Wolves." There was just the faintest trace of a scent and he snarled, "with magic." He could smell the stink of it on his door. He was about to fling it open when there was a hand on his chest. He looked at Stiles and blinked. All the affable idiocy was gone, and there was an icy look on his face.

"Stay there," he was ordered, and Derek found himself obeying. He watched Stiles examine the front door, sniffing, even licking a spot. Phone flashlight on, and there was eventually a nod. "No trap." Stiles swung the loft door open and strode in first, perfectly puny person when there was a fucking Hale. Acting like he could stop whatever was on the other side.

And Derek almost believed it. He followed Stiles in, but when he tried to move in front of Stiles there was a snarl, and even teeth clacking together in a bite motion.

Derek stayed behind Stiles.

Stiles oddly enough whistled and waited. "Okay, we're fine."

"How does a whistle tell you that?"

"If magic had been done in this space, unwelcome magic, the whistle would have died, like just been eaten up. It is a call whistle."

"You said you couldn't do magic."

"I can't, but I've read every goddamn thing I can get my hand on."

Derek crowded up against Stiles, and sniffed his neck. "Hmm," was all he said, because there was something there, blocked, or waiting. And it was getting impatient. "You almost looked like you knew what you were doing."

"I'm a great bodyguard, you are just a doubting wolf." Stiles was scowling at him. "Anyways, in my official capacity, they came to check it out, but they didn't get the scent of Talia here, so decided that hitting this place wasn't worth it, and oh shit, dude, they decided you were meaningless, that sucks."

There was pity on Stiles' face, and Derek ignored it. Peter's watch on his wrist, helped. That Cora came to the party, helped. That he had his own pack, and fuck it he was calling them his pack from now on, helped. "My mom sucks," Derek said flatly. He did not expect that to send Stiles into a giggle fit, and yet it did.

Derek put his gifts on the table and flopped down on the couch, while Stiles tried to collect himself.

"God, of all the things I have heard said about the might Talia Hale, that she sucks, is a new one." Stiles sat on the coffee table even though there were plenty of chairs and space on the couch. "But yeah, it seems she sucks."

"She always said the pack and protection were her anchor. But I think it was really Dad, and her grief is making her a dumbass. And I think Deaton and Laura are egging that on a bit. Mom was pack alpha by Laura's age."

"Yeah because Peter murdered their alpha. Which shouldn't the spark have gone to Peter?" Derek didn't look at Stiles. "Oh shit, dude, you gotta lore drop on me." Stiles was leaning forward, "was Peter going to be the alpha?"

"No," Derek really shouldn't tell family secrets to a guy he had known a day. But Peter was fine with the sheriff, and there was just something about this weirdo. "The official line is that my grandfather, died in a tragic accident saving Peter, and Peter was was so broken by this that even though he was the one closest by, the spark knew to go to Talia to protect Peter."

"And the truth?"

"Peter killed his father to protect the pack because he was planning to basically auction off the attractive members to grow power. It was vicious, planned, and terrifying. Grandfather's left hand didn't even see it coming. Peter had spent years pretending he was going to be Talia's right hand, so when he attacked no one was prepared. He killed them all, Grandfather, the left hand, the right, the emissary. And when he killed Grandfather, the spark started to settle into him, and he chose to let it go. Told it to go to Talia."

"What? No fucking way did Peter fucking Hale not choose alpha power!"

Derek nodded, "it was a long term plan. I think? I don't get it, but he just said once, when very tired and poisoned, that he had a reason for not taking it in that moment. Something about time for choice to begin. But he also talked about flying monkeys, so who knows."

"Wow, so wait," Stiles was clearly thinking, "oh god, Talia only has her power because of Peter? No wonder she is extra bitchy to him. She knows that she only has her power because he let her. Dad could never understand it. Why be a dick to the person who murders so much, and gets away with it? Dude, your family is nuts."

"I am aware." Derek looked at Stiles. "You are magic."

"I'm really not," Stiles said, "just a guy with a few too many jobs, and too little money. Which speaking of too little money, sorry I didn't get you a gift."

"You've known me for a day, and you made my party an actual party. I think we are good." Derek folded his hands on his stomach and looked at Stiles. The guy was annoying, but also perhaps a bit fascinating. He was so damn much, which usually drove Derek crazy. He needed simple.

But also perhaps he had been just a little bored.

"Want a birthday fuck?"

Derek blinked, "we've known each other a day?"

Stiles blinked in return, "You've never had a hook up? I live in my dad's house and I am twenty three, and horny. You are crazy hot, not a moron, and have a huge bed over there."

"I generally don't hook up, people aren't exactly wanting to hook up with me."

"But you are hot."

"And grumpy, and the werewolf thing is either too much of a turn off or too much of a turn on."

"Huh, actually that makes sense." Stiles was clearly thinking. "Fair. No sex. Birthday blowjob, handjob, make out until we shoot off in our jeans and end up feeling awkward, but laughing about it?"

Derek rolled his eyes, "you are the most absurd human I have ever met."

"You need to meet more people, I'm like not even in the top five," Stiles said. There was an eyebrow wiggle. "And you totally need some absurd in your life."

Derek reached out, yanked so that Stiles tumbled onto his lap. "Let me guess, absurd is your middle name?"

"No it's Genim, becuase my mom was too drugged up at my birth to stop my dad." Stiles wrapped arms around Derek's neck. "Wanna know what my first name is?"

"Trouble?"

"Pretty damn close," Stiles agreed.

Derek hadn't just made out on a couch since he was fifteen, but it was a pretty great way to close what should have been a shitty thirtieth birthday.

Derek stood with his family, and noticed that Stiles and Noah were standing back, but not as far as Talia had told them. Noah was in dress uniform, and Stiles was in a red hoodie, with that aluminum baseball bat of all things. Talia had sneered a bit when Derek had brought Stiles, but she had also had a similar look for the sheriff.

"Thank you, but we are fine," she called out.

Derek and Peter exchanged looks when Noah and Stiles nodded, but didn't move an inch.

There was a huff but Talia clearly was not going to deal with that when there was more important things going on.

"Cora, dear, that is a choice. I put out a dress for you."

"And I ignored it," Cora said in trousers, dress shirt, and waistcoat, shirt unbuttoned until where it reached waistcoat. "I look better in this, and that way when people try to murder us, I have decent movement."

"No one would dare interrupt a ceremony of this nature."

"Oh for fuck's sake," Peter cursed. "Do you know how many traps and blinds I have dismantled in the last week? I have seven people tied up or chained to radiators in the motel at the edge of town!"

"Is Isaac's dad one of them?" Derek asked.

"Of course, he was bothering your pup, I dealt with him. Do let me know if you want it more permanent."

"I am close enough to hear that!" Noah said. "Come on, give me some plausible deniability, or I swear —"

"Sheriff, I would suggest you not swear anything about my pack, or I will make life difficult for you," Talia called.

No one expected the snarl from Peter. Derek saw Stiles perfectly calm though, so maybe one person did. Because honestly, it seemed to have surprised Peter too.

"If you go near my human, I will take you down," Peter warned.

Everyone froze at Talia and Peter facing off, until Laura interjected, "we don't have time for this. I become the pack alpha in just an hour." There was a smug righteousness to her, that drove Derek crazy. She had done absolutely nothing to earn this. Laura just was the oldest and thought she deserved this. Ignored that Talia hadn't earned it, that Peter had let the power go to Talia. Talia at least had worked hard to be a good alpha when the power had been given to her. Laura just waited.

"You suck," Derek said out loud. He didn't even realize he was going to, but he did. "Mom, don't do this. Laura is a bad choice for alpha." He had to say it, once at least.

"What?" Laura screeched, and had to be stopped from clawing him. "I swear to god, Derek, first thing I'm going to do is kick you out of the pack. You'll be an omega, and I will have to order Peter to take you down."

Derek noticed that Peter completely ignored Laura, was scanning the parameter for threats. Laura really thought that Peter would become her left hand. No way in hell, was all Derek could think. Peter hated Laura, mainly for her lack of vision. She viewed the left hand as a thug, no finesse. Peter did not care to have his work maligned in that way.

"Please, children," Talia raised her hand, "this is a sacred moment. We need to treat it like it deserves. With respect and reverence." It seemed she was just going to ignore the one child planning the death of the other. "We gather here, to celebrate and honour."

Fuck his mom really was going to do the full speech. Derek tuned it out, and then they were walking into the woods, to the stump of the Nemeton.

Stiles moved up next to him. "Something," was all he said. "Peter and Dad too."

Derek nodded in agreement, ears trying to hear everything, because yeah there was something bad in the air. He didn't believe in destiny, but he knew this was all going to go horribly wrong. He looked around. "Mom, where are Laura and Cora's bodyguards?"

"They have me, I dismissed them."

Peter tensed, "no, they are meeting us at the tree. That was the instructions I gave."

"Hardly, darling really a couple off duty officers?"

"My best, I assigned a fucking hellhound to Cora," the sheriff cursed. He was on a walkie talkie the next second, "Parrish? Where the hell are you?"

"Sir, a bank robbery was called in right as I was headed to the ceremony. Clearly a distraction, but there are hostages. Every available officer is dealing with that. Whoever is out there, is who you got."

"Alright, Parrish, get that situation handled, and then get ready. This is going to go south." Derek saw the sheriff looking at Peter. "I saw nothing," was said quietly, "I trust you."

"You are a fool," Peter replied.

"Yeah, that's what they tell me."

"Pops, come on, I don't think you are a fool, I mean you raised me, and I am awesome."

"Hmm, interesting word, not sure it is accurate." Talia managed to get a sneer in, even on such a supposedly reverent day, and it pissed Derek off. Yes, Stiles was probably useless, but he liked the guy. Oh, shit, he liked Stiles. He would deal with that later.

"Mom, shut the fuck up and focus on your bullshit ceremony," Derek snapped, and it felt like the woods themselves fell silent at the insult on such a day.

"You are going to regret that," Laura said darkly.

"Family bonding, isn't it great?" Cora muttered. Derek watched her slow down though, until she was next to him. Derek took her hand, squeezed it, and she squeezed back. When he was repudiated later, he'd at least have the bond with Cora to hold onto. Peter's watch was heavy on his wrist.

No matter Laura and his mom did, he wouldn't be an omega. Because he had some family, and he had a pack. A baseball bat tapped his shoulder, and he got just the worst wink imaginable from Stiles.

He had a bodyguard. That maybe he liked, just a little bit.

He'd make it.

The Nemeton hurt to look at, as it always did. Something in him always ached here, and it wasn't because it was where he killed Paige. It was something else, and he could never explain it. Peter felt it too, and looked almost mournful.

"Oh," Stiles whispered, "oh shit. Derek —"

Talia held up a hand and Derek was shocked when Stiles quieted.

There were wolves all around the Nemeton, witches, fairies, creatures that had long not been seen in Beacon Hills. It was so much and the air smelled of too much magic. This was a huge mistake.

But Deaton stood there in druid robes, looking pleased as punch. Derek wondered how much he was planning to siphon for himself. Derek stayed still as his mother and Laura moved forward, as they stepped up onto the stump.

Talia held out a hand to them, and called,"Cora," which guess no it wasn't to them both after all. Cora's grip tightened, and she shook her head. Talia's eyes flashed red, a compulsion and Derek could feel Cora shudder.

Peter's hand gripped Cora's shoulder and Derek held her tight. Talia gave a short nod and they knew all three of them were either going to have their memories destroyed, or all three were done with the pack. Maybe both.

Deaton started the ceremony, and Derek looked around, there were at least three dozen gathered, watching. Some with indifference, some with reverence, and a few waiting. And Derek realized they had been thinking about this wrong.

They had assumed one group would attack. "Peter," he whispered.

"I know," Peter gestured at the sheriff, and soon they were moving circling.

"Cora, get the fuck out of here," Derek said.

"Why?"

"Because they co-ordinated," Stiles was the one to answer. "Get fucking ready," he said.

"I'm staying," Cora looked around, tried to figure out where the threat was. "What do I do?"

"The pixies there, tell them you have a riddle," Stiles ordered. "Peter looks like he is handling the wolves, Dad is aiming for the witches that are currently readying a spell. Derek?"

Derek hated them both so much, but he had only one answer. He looked at Stiles, who seemed somehow to understand him.

Deaton was speaking, and with a gesture Laura was kneeling. The three were so focused on the ceremony, they didn't even notice the violence that was about to erupt.

Derek pressed forward and sure enough when Deaton pulled the alpha spark from Talia, the woods exploded. A bit of it quite literally as a magic bomb went off. Peter was going to be impossibly smug that he had been right about this.

There were howls and screams, magic filled the air. Derek didn't fight, there were enough bodyguards for that. He just pressed forward, and when Deucalion leapt onto the Nemeton, Derek didn't try to fight the alpha, because he knew he'd lose — he was strong but nowhere near the strength of an alpha second only to his mom.

Instead, even though she had sworn him to death, Derek wrapped himself around Laura, protected his sister as Deucalion's claws sank into his spine. Fuck. The pain was indescribable and he wasn't sure his legs were working. But his arms were and he reached out, pulled his mom close, covered them both as best he could.

His dad would have wanted him to. There was a roar, a piercing howl from Deucalion, but not in rage. In pain. Derek couldn't look up, focused on providing his pack with cover as screams filled the woods.

"Safe, stay safe," he told him. "I have you."

"Fuck you, get off me," Laura shouted, "the spark, I need the spark," she demanded.

"Mom's weak, we keep her safe," Derek said. He was going so damn numb. But it was weird that no other strikes were hitting him, and that it also went quiet. He managed to look and there was a glow around them. And Stiles beating the shit out of Deucalion with his baseball bat.

Huh, guess he was a decent bodyguard after all, who would have thought it?

Deaton was calling to them but it was muffled, something about accept it, call to it.

Laura started screaming for the alpha spark to come to her.

Derek just looked at his mom. Who was looking at him in return and crying. She hadn't cried at Dad's funeral. "Hey, shh, it's fine. Well no, it's not. Peter is going to say I told you so until the day he dies." Derek laughed a bit. "He gave me his watch."

"I should have done that, why didn't I do that?" Talia's hands were cupping his face, as she drained his pain. She tried to move away, and he held her tight. "Derek."

"No, pack keeps each other safe, I protect my pack," Derek said. Ordered her. "So stay still, and let me die on top of you, so I know you stayed safe." Because he knew he was dying. But he could keep her safe. Laura too, even though she was screaming so loudly. "Laura, just fucking alpha up already, and protect us!"

"It isn't coming to me, I earned it, and it isn't filling me up. Mom did something wrong!"

Derek was feeling dizzy, "ask it nicely."

"No, it's mine."

He felt so sick, but he didn't let them go, "Just fucking say, please, all I want is to protect my pack, protect this land. I will stand faithful and true. I do not lead but follow, I am only as strong as my pack, and I will die to serve them, live to keep them safe. It's not fucking hard, Laura."

Everything ached, no matter how much his mother pulled his pain, it hurt, and then it didn't and then it was hot, so very hot as something pressed it into him, wormed its way through his injuries, healing them as it travelled to his heart, and Derek couldn't do anything but howl.

The bubble around them shattered and he stood up, and saw all the chaos.

And saw Stiles there, covered in blood, pouring magic out of his soul, and grinning viciously as he kicked Deucalion's corpse off the Nemeton stump.

"Hot," Derek managed to say around the fangs.

"Wow, way to live in the moment there, alpha," Stiles said, "also dude, you are the alpha, and I am your emissary, because holy fuck did protecting you unleash a fuckmetricton of power!" There was a completely insane giggle from Stiles, and Derek was annoyed at how much he enjoyed the sound.

"I didn't say you were my emissary," Derek pointed out.

"Well it's me or Deaton," was the reply. "And also you are paying me. The Hales are rich, it is now a full time paid position."

"With dental, and eye, glasses are getting really expensive these days," the sheriff called out from where he was zip tying some witches. "Oh shut up, y'all lost because my kid is the better than you. Deal with it and stop that chanting. Those spells need sigils drawn correctly, and your hands can't do shit right now."

"If Derek gets to keep Stiles, I get to keep you," Peter called out, from where he was stabbing the hell out of some hunters. He was enjoying it a bit too much, but he deserved to have some fun after the hell of the last few weeks.

Derek howled and the wolves knelt. Deaton stepped forward, and looked pissed. "The spark has chosen Derek Hale as the alpha of the Hale pack. Does anyone wish to challenge for that spark?"

"Now, Deaton, I know you were not going to be making that same offer when Laura got the spark," Stiles called, "so unless you want to find out just how magic I am, how about you step back and leave off my alpha?"

"Full eye and dental," Derek swore because Stiles was almost glowing with pure power. He didn't know what to do when his mom knelt at his feet. "Mom?"

"I accept your decision, alpha."

"Mom!" Laura screeched, "it's mine. I challenge you! Do you hear me, Derek, I challenge you for the spark."

"Bitch you did not," Cora was there next to him. "Try it."

"Indeed," Peter moved over, and was next to Stiles. "What I am seeing here is a left hand, that's me, a left hand in training my dear Cora, and an emissary. Sheriff, do please move over to be Derek's right hand."

"I'm busy making sure these idiots stay down, but yeah, sure I'll hand it up."

Derek didn't laugh at that pragmatism because the sheriff was really working through the crowd making sure everyone understood they were in trouble. Zip ties wouldn't actually stop wolves, but he was working the couple hunters that Peter hadn't killed.

"Do you have any of that, Laura? Did you plan at all for today? For the future, or were you just desperate for power that wasn't yours?" Peter was crouched next to Laura. "Tsk, tsk, you really didn't see the forest for the trees did you? Neither you nor Talia ever did see the big picture."

"You planned this," Talia was watching her brother in horror and awe. "The second I decided to do this, you were plotting for it to go to Derek."

Derek saw Peter smile as he stood. But Peter said nothing in response, and Derek understood. It wasn't interesting enough to be alpha for Peter. Sure he'd have power, but it would be overt everyone would see it. Can't work from the shadows if you wear the crown, but you sure as shit can make and unmake kingdoms from there.

He should be scared.

Derek looked at the watch on his wrist and felt comforted. He would protect his pack, and his pack would protect him. "Challenge me, Laura."

Laura was watching him. "I repudiate you, fuck you, you aren't my alpha. I'll be gone from this territory by dawn." Laura stalked away, and Derek let her go.

"I will follow her, I do not deserve to stay," Talia said. "I need time away to think. To grieve."

"Mom, you don't have to," Derek said, "We can —"

"No, you need space, and I need to let go. I am sorry," she cupped his cheek. "Happy birthday."

Derek melted just a bit at that, forgiving her everything, because she was still his mom. When she left, Deaton followed, looking annoyed but hey, Derek was unlikely to ever to have to talk to the guy again, so win there.

Derek looked over and the rest of the Hale pack was kneeling, and looking at him pleased. "Hi," he managed to say.

"God that was bad," Stiles groaned, "okay new alpha not a great talker. But don't worry I am."

"Fuck," Noah cursed from the crowd.

"Don't worry, Pops, I got this. This —" Stiles gestured, "—Is the new Hale alpha. He's a big stupid dumb softy, but guess what, his emissary and left hand are not. So, like, fuck with Derek, and we'll fuck you up so much, you'll see gods and demons you never could have ever believed in or even imagined. Ain't that right murderwolf?"

"Why yes, I do believe that sums it up," Peter agreed, and licked some of the blood on his hands. "In fact, I do believe that hunters should be very very careful about stepping into Hale territory at all. Entering without our permission will be taken as an act of aggression. If that is okay with the alpha, of course."

Derek nodded, a bit overwhelmed. "I just want my pack safe."

"And we will make sure of that, very thoroughly," Peter promised and Stiles rested his bat on his shoulder. A bit of Deucalion fell off the end.

Derek sighed, they were going to be a nightmare together. But Beacon Hills, the Hale pack, would definitely be safe. "Guess we're doing this," was what he managed to say as he waved at all the supernatural gathered there.

Derek groaned, "Erica, what did you do?"

There were people gathered outside waiting for the store to open.

"It's the one year anniversary of you being an alpha! We're having a sale!" Erica grinned at him, completely unrepetent as always. "Also happy birthday, alpha." Her eyes flashed gold and his responded red in return. There was a kiss to his cheek, and he pack nuzzled her, because he couldn't not.

He was surrounded by giant pains in the ass who ran him ragged, and he wouldn't want it any other way.

His team had cornered him, demanded the bite a week after he had been made an alpha by fate, or well, by Peter. They ganged up on him, and frankly Stiles had encouraged it. Bastard emissary. But his pack were amazing wolves.

He opened the doors and Isaac put records on, Boyd swung by so Erica could ogle him in the uniform. She swore it was different when he was actually on the job versus him getting ready at home. He didn't get it, but also yeah when he saw Stiles walking down the street bat on his shoulder was a lot different than when he swung it about at home when he was thinking through a problem.

People streamed in all day to wish him happy birthday and happy anniversary, with friends swearing they were coming to the big party at the pack house that night. Derek glared at Erica who just smiled back. There was a lot of texting from her that day, and he damn well knew it was to Stiles.

They were both menaces.

When they closed for the night, he drove home, not to his old loft, but to the Hale house where he lived. He hadn't taken over the master bedroom, it still had felt too much like his parents. Instead he had turned the space into Stiles' study, and he had moved into the library on the main floor.

Derek loved it, being surrounded by books day and night was comforting. Three months ago, Stiles had gotten tired of waiting and just moved himself into the space. Derek couldn't sleep now without feeling Stiles kick him in his sleep.

The house was lit up, and he could smell barbecue. Noah must be grilling, even though it was November. Derek knew a tasty steak was in his future and cake and whatever else was out there. He went around the corner of the house and the yard was full and loud, and smelled like so many different foods. And love.

He rather liked that scent.

"Hey, babe," Stiles ran over and leapt, Derek caught him easily. "Yo, so I'll be nice, we can do my performance review and raise discussion tomorrow, even though it is my one year on the job today."

Derek dropped Stiles on the ground, and stepped over him. He accepted the hug Noah gave him, and found Cora and Peter arguing over some people at the motel. "Not tonight," he told them. "No murder today."

"But —" Peter protested.

"No," Derek said firmly. "Tonight you be happy Peter, nice Peter and maybe kiss someone you like." For a man who had declared ownership of a certain sheriff, he hadn't done much about it.

"To be fair, I don't think Noah would know what to do with nice Peter," Cora offered, "but no murder tonight. Promise."

Derek grunted as Stiles hit his back, but he held his emissary, his partner, his spark up easily. "Hey," Stiles said and kissed him. "Happy everything."

Derek smiled a bit.

He was rather happy.