Work Text:
Stiles groaned as his back popped in three places. He was too young to be this creaky, but perhaps his dad was right and he needed to actually incorporate movement in his life. But lacrosse practice had movement, he had to go from the locker room to the bench. That was movement. He moved. Every other week he had to run for his damned life, that was movement.
But perhaps he should start setting a timer so that every thirty minutes he stood up and stretched. But he also knew himself, he'd ignore that timer. It wasn't his fault that there was lacrosse playoffs, final projects, and Scott accidentally busting into a fairy circle and only Stiles' quick thinking got them the time of answering a riddle before they all got kidnapped to the fae court.
He had heard it when his dad has reminded him that it was a busy week, things being set up, annual annoyance, something something too many ass cheeks something something. But Stiles really didn't want to join the seelie court, so like he ignored it. And since his dad hadn't yanked him away from the computer, he figured they were safe.
Stiles wrote down the exact words he had to say into his phone because he was tired enough he would not remember them. He went downstairs, called for his dad because he should be home. It was Saturday. Maybe? A quick glance said no it was Monday. Shit he was supposed to be at school. But his dad would have yelled at him, if he was. A glance at the calendar said today and tomorrow were off. That was nice, must be meetings or something.
Whatever, he wasn't going to get in school suspension for skipping, all that mattered. He ate handful of cheerios right from the box, too lazy for a bowl, chugging milk from the carton every few chomps. He texted the pack that he had the answer, and waited but there was no reply. Weird. But whatever. Honestly this would be easier if he kept the pack out of it. The fae had not been impressed with his boy, said they would only parlay with Stiles. Which cool, suck it Deaton, Stiles was going to make a great emissary.
He needed his dad though, because the fae required an authoritative witness to the answering of the riddle. But luckily he had one of those track your kid apps installed on his dad's phone because the man literally did not notice apps that Stiles put on there. Was it a slight violation of privacy, sure, but he knew where the man was should land sharks attack the guy.
Guy was at the main entrance to the preserve so that was perfect. Stiles put on looser jeans and a comfy tee, red hoodie over top, as it was the closest he had to a formal cloak. The fae rules dictated he bring a sword, but like he wasn't a d&d nerd, he didn't have a sword. He did have his bat so he hope that counted.
Roscoe actually started up fine, understood how important today was. As he drove through town, it was clear everyone had a case of the Mondays, there was like no traffic, made his life easy. But before he got to the main entrance, it was cordoned off and the parking area full, cars parked on the road. Stiles groaned because clearly there was some stupid town thing going on in the clearing. Probably national fuck up Stiles' shit day.
The town celebrated that one a lot.
Luckily though, there was more than one way to skin a cat, and more than one entrance to the preserve. "Lot of balloons and banners," he muttered but dismissed. The fae were his concern not a craft fair or whatever. Bit on it was on a Monday but Beacon Hills be like that.
He drove west to the old logging road, which had technically a parking area beside it, if you counted a square of compacted dirt, which he did. And actually this was closer to the fae ring. He texted his dad, that he was headed into the preserve and the co-ordinates he needed the guy to meet him at.
The phone rang almost instantly. "Stiles, what are you doing?"
"I told you, Scottie fucked up."
"He didn't, I hope. He was so excited this morning. Which god knows why any of these people were excited," was said. He could hear someone in the background saying something. "Why did you send me co-ordinates. Wait, Stiles is this about the thing you've been researching?"
Stiles kept moving and a few feet into the woods, the phone cut off. The signal was so hit or miss in the preserve. Or actually, no, he hadn't charged his phone. With the one percent battery he had left, he told his dad to hurry up and meet him.
Phone pocketed, Stiles breathed in, he always liked the smell of the preserve. Nature rotting and growing, trees. Magic, he could smell the magic in these woods. It called to him. He kept trying to answer but apparently his mind was blocking him or something. Blah blah Deaton is a cryptic bastard. Stiles would figure it out. Another deep breath made him frown because the magic was fainter, covered in —sex. That was weird. How did the woods smell like what he figured a gang bang porn studio would smell like? So much ripe omega, aggressive alpha in the air.
Weird.
But he had fairies to appease. Stiles rest his bat on his shoulder and pushed into the woods. Hoped his dad would meet him there.
Deputy Derek Hale was talking to his mom at the entrance to the preserve. "Why do you like this so much?" he asked her. She was beaming and smelled like pure joy and contentment.
"Because today, people are going to find their mates, Derek. It is a blessing from the goddess to find your person." She sounded so sincere, it was honestly a bit off putting. "Your father and I met at a mating run in —"
"In Colorado, there were a half dozen alphas who wanted him, he smelled so perfect." Derek repeated the words verbatim, having heard them a million times. "Mom what is going on out there today, is not soulmates, isn't alphas and omegas finding their perfect match. It is a legally sanctioned public fuckfest."
His mom gasped in shock, as she did every time Derek made fun of a mating run, but come on no one took them seriously. Except her.
They were just a hook up bar but you know letting people be primal and excuse who they bone saying it is tradition, and hormones.
"Nice to know one Hale has common sense."
Derek looked over at his boss. Sheriff Stilinski was a good guy and he liked working at the department. He had been pushing his mom to be able to tell the man they were werewolves. But she was hesitant. He got it, secrecy kept them safe, but also he knew the secret would be safe with the sheriff. He looked at his boss, "You don't like mating runs?"
"Noah, I can't believe it. You and Claudia were a match if I ever saw one." His mom was smiling, "you didn't meet at a run?"
"No, we met the way god intended. At a brawl in a Chuck E. Cheese parking lot."
Derek watched his mom's eyes go huge, and it was the first time he had actually ever scented shock on her. Not even Peter's antics had her as confounded as that statement did. He wasn't going to laugh, he wasn't. But he took out his phone to take a picture of her face for Cora.
The sheriff's phone beeped and he stepped away to check the message.
Both Derek and Talia bared their teeth at the scent of fear that poured off the sheriff an instant later. An alpha in fear was an uncommon scent, and they both were ready to go to war. The sheriff was on the phone a second later. The call was quick and clearly cut off.
"Fuck," the man cursed.
"Sheriff, what do you need?" Talia asked.
Derek nodded, he would do whatever for the man. He called Derek son, and gave good shoulder squeezes. He was the exact sort of alpha that Derek wanted to be. Steady, calm, but an edge ready and waiting. He didn't have the drive to be the pack alpha, luckily his sister did.
"My idiot son, is in the woods."
"There are lots of people in the woods, it is the mating run," Talia sort of gestured to the tents and crowds gathered for the charity barbecue and to see if their family and friends found their true mate. "You didn't say he was in the run."
"He isn't." The sheriff looked pained. "Can we move over to the side a bit?" They agreed and moved over. "Okay, so I need to say something completely crazy to the two of you right now. But I need you to believe me."
"Of course, you are never called a liar," Talia reassured.
"Magic is real. Creatures are real. My other kid, not by blood but just ended up with him is Scott McCall. He is a werewolf now, and oh god that sounds so insane, I can't believe it is real half the time. And that would be fine. Except my actual dumbass kid has decided he is in charge of the werewolf, and his other friend who is a banshee? Banshees are also real. But Stiles, has decided that he is like their emissary? It is a word that Deaton taught them."
"Deaton?" his mom's voice was frigid. "Deaton knows about all this?"
Noah winced, "Yeah and I punched him. Not proud of it, but he told my kids to keep it secret from me. Which both of them were like uhh no, secrets like that get us grounded for life, and told me and Melissa. Anyways, they are trying to figure it all out, and protect Beacon Hills like goddamned superheroes or something. But they are kids and morons because they are seventeen. So Scott broke a fairy ring —"
"He did what?" Derek blinked and looked to his mom. "There are no fae in the preserve." She nodded in agreement.
"Oh yeah, well, fairies are real too, they tried to steal Scott away, but my kid challenged them as the emissary who is tied to magic, is magic, I dunno, I can't keep it straight. He was given three days and nights and guess he found the answer and is now going through the woods which have a twenty nine alphas hunting twenty six omegas in there. I cannot make these co-ordinates in time and it needs someone of authority to witness. You are an alpha, a deputy, and a Hale, so like that should be enough and you are really physically fit, Derek. Please I know this is all a lot to believe in, but my kid is going to try to deal with magic shit in the middle of the mating run. It is a recipe for disaster."
"Peter's wards mean no fae," Talia protested. "And any incursion of the fae, would mean they officially presented the tri-fold gift to me. And I haven't gotten shit!"
"Wait, you know about this stuff?"
"We are this stuff!" Talia's eyes flashed and her fangs dropped. Derek looked quickly around to make sure no one noticed. "I am the high werewolf of this territory, alpha in biology and in supernatural rules. Deaton is my emissary, though if he has been guiding these pups —"
"Mom, stay calm."
"I will be very calm when I show him his own spine."
Derek winced a bit. That didn't sound good, and was also why Peter generally handled stuff. His mom was the single most calm and sure person in the world. Which meant when she decided to murder someone personally it tended to get messy. Peter was many things, but never messy.
"Hypothetically," Noah said firmly, "and in a calm here is a drawing of what can happen to people not that it ever would way. Now it sounds like Deaton has been making choices and we will deal with that after. But right now we have around fifty people fucking in the woods, and my kid has gone in there to deal with magic stuff. I will follow you, Derek but you make better time, know the woods better than I do. You need to protect —"
"Stiles, I will sir."
"Derek's whole core as an alpha is to protect."
Derek didn't know what to do when the sheriff just snorted, "No son, I need you to go in there and protect everyone else from Stiles. Because if he is on a mission? Nothing will get in his way, and I don't want to have to deal with all the restraining order my kid could end up with in there for beating the shit out of alphas who try to approach him."
"Yes, sir. Show me the co-ordinates." Derek groaned and showed his mom. "Of course they are there."
"Do I want to know?"
"Noah, you do not. Especially because we have our own problems."
Derek looked over and a couple had rolled out of the woods, the omega clearly helping the alpha who looked like they had sprained an ankle and in pain, but also horny. So there was a lot of pawing at the omega, dick just flapping about, even as they limped forward.
"Great. I'm just saying Talia. We move the run to the mall that just shut down."
"That isn't exactly traditional."
"Yes but then we avoid all of this. How is it sexy to have stepped in animal shit on your way to tackle an omega? They all get bug bites in places you don't want bug bites. Mall also means less tripping in the woods and less sprayed ankles."
Derek watched because as the sheriff had been talking he had unzipped a duffel bag and pulled out a super soaker water gun of all things. Derek and his mom stared at it in fascination as the sheriff pumped it a few times and sprayed the alpha with it.
"Water that had my kid's gym socks and lacrosse uniform soaking in them. No amount of horny pheromones will win out over that smell."
Derek watched his mom try desperately not to laugh and was rapidly failing.
"Sheriff, we have always had a solid relationship, but I have decided we are going to be best friends."
"Sounds good. Derek, get running."
Derek looked to his mom, his alpha for guidance. "Protect the omega fledgling emissary by whatever means necessary," she told him, "and tell the fae, that I am deeply unimpressed with them, and they better be grateful it is you standing next to Stiles, and not Peter. Or myself."
"Yes, alpha," Derek flashed his eyes in promise. "Sir, I won't let you down."
There was an eye roll, "no shit, you are both the saddest and goodest boy ever on the force."
There was a cackle from his mom and Derek decided to start running, rather than answer that sentence. Into the woods and the scent of omegas and alphas was overwhelming the trees, moss, animals. He shook his head to clear it. As he set off the scents grew in intensity and he knew there was a werewolf alpha in the woods, but at least he knew that was this Scott, so he could ignore it. And besides really smelled like he was busy at the moment.
Derek ran deeper and deeper into the woods, and the scents levelled out a bit, most not making it that deep in, too busy wanting to fuck it out.
Eventually he caught a scent that carried a bit of the sheriff, knew it had to be Stiles. He had seen pictures of the kid in the sheriff's office, and had been warned about the boy by all the other deputies, but hadn't had any personal exchanges yet with him.
Derek breathed in, tracked the scent and in the distance saw a teen in a red hoodie, baseball bat on his shoulder. Not running, zero situational awareness, just looking like he was out for a chill stroll. Right through the middle of a mating run.
The kid was either dumb as a post, or as oblivious as something incredibly oblivious.
Derek scented an alpha, watched as one began to stalk Stiles. He had been given an order by his pack alpha, and by the sheriff he respected so much. He snarled and leapt, tackled the alpha, put the guy down hard. He snarled in his face, "find another omega," he ordered.
"But he smells so good," was whined.
He growled, and yeah the guy whined, submitted. Derek got up, let the man run away. He turned, expected to see Stiles frozen in fear.
But the teen was still sauntering through the woods. Whistling.
Okay, yup this kid was a moron.
Another alpha was scented and Derek growled.
Because it was his job to keep that moron alive and unmounted. He better get a goddamn bonus in his next paycheque.
Stiles was so confused about why the woods stank so much. Like woods always smelled, because something was always dead or rotting, but this was not that kind of stink. It was people. There was a lot of pheromones in the woods going haywire.
Like just so much alpha and omega stink. He wrinkled a nose a bit at it. The woods should be smelling like that. Was he going to stumble across an orgy? Stiles couldn't decide if he was intrigued or grossed out by it. He had to admit that when he watched porn he kind of avoided group bang vids.
Because yeah, he was horny, he was a healthy omega who was seventeen and not ace, so horny was pretty much on always on the table, but also he was maybe a bit of a romantic, and he wasn't waiting for his true mate or anything, he'd have sex, but sex just felt like a one at a time thing.
And his parents had been perfect together, and he wanted that.
But also seeing a live orgy would be a fun thing to tell everyone he stumbled across. He could hear running in the woods behind him, a snarl, but it wasn't getting closer and he was a man on a mission so he ignored it.
He needed to stop the fae from taking his boy, and see the orgy that was stinking up his woods.
Stiles kept walking, kept ignoring all the insane smells, and the weird noises behind him. But then he caught a scent he recognized. "Scott?" he called out.
He was sure he had scented the alpha, his brother. Stiles paused, listened to the woods. His mistake. Could be a lingering scent from a few days ago. Stiles shrugged, kept going.
It wasn't an orgy, but there was a noise that was definitely not little woodland critters. After a bit more walking, he stumbled across and omega riding an alpha hard. Which he should give them privacy, but also you fuck out in the woods, people are going to maybe stumble across you.
Wait, he knew that alpha and omega. Not knew knew, but he was in chem class with the omega, and the guy had graduated last year. Guess he was back visiting and they decided to have fun. "Dudes, there is poison ivy just over there, so like don't start rolling about too much, yeah?"
The omega growled at him, "My alpha," she snarled.
"Cool, don't care, just saying, itchy hell just over there. Carry on." He rolled his eyes a bit, he was just trying to be helpful.
He stopped a bit later because fuck, he had kind of forgot which way he was supposed to go, and since his phone was dead, he couldn't look it up on a map. Oh god, his dad was right about always having a back up paper map on hand. He could never tell the man that.
But he was maybe an emissary and magic and stuff. Maybe. He was trying to be, even if Deaton wasn't one hundred percent sure. He closed his eyes, listened to the woods, breathed in. God the scents of alphas and omegas were ridiculous. What the hell was going on? He blocked it out, focused on listening more than scenting. The fae would call to him, he knew it. He just had to listen, to wait.
And he could do that. No matter what some people thought.
But it was also boring, so fuck it. He picked the left path, and heard a noise. Too close. He spun, and as he did so, he swung the bat hard.
Where it hit nothing but air, as a man in a deputy uniform tackled an alpha. Stiles watched them roll around a bit, until the deputy growled the lowest, more terrifying alpha snarl he had ever heard. The other alpha rolled, tried to sound equally scary but also, come on.
"Theo?" Stiles frowned at him. It was a kid from school. He was fairly new, and he had a vibe that Stiles did not care for. Liked to try to scent Stiles a bit. Stiles had put itching powder in the guy's gym clothes in retaliation. "What are you doing?"
"What are you doing, Stilinski," Theo growled back, "if you had wanted to fuck I would have been happy to help you out. You don't even smell that bad."
"Excuse you, I smell great. I shower twice a day, so my dad can't hear me jerking off."
"Really?" the deputy groaned a bit. "Really?" When Theo started to step forward, the deputy just sort of grabbed his scruff. "Stay," he demanded.
"What?" Stiles frowned, "oh wait, he means omega scent. Right, sorry, I'm really smart, just got a thing I need to do."
"You are doing it," Theo protested, "and I am your answer."
"How?" Stiles looked at him. "No, I have it on lock. We're good, but thanks?" He was not used to Theo being helpful. It was weird.
"Wow," the deputy muttered. He pulled out his phone. "I found him, sir. I do have to question his intelligence, he seems to have remained completely unaware of what is going on. I will proceed with him to the location, which he had also headed in the wrong direction." The deputy was quiet for a moment. "Understood, sir."
The deputy hung up and cursed when he realized that Theo was jerking off, let him go quickly.
"See, look at me," Theo growled.
"Okay?" Stiles looked. Gave a thumb's up. "Yup, that's a dick. Good for you?" He shrugged, "thanks for showing me? Bye?"
Stiles started to walk away when Theo let out an alpha growl that was supposed to make an omega want to submit. Stiles turned slowly and pointed his bat at Theo. "Oh, I think you are going to apologize for that bullshit. Right now."
"Scott isn't here to keep you safe," Theo challenged. "You came out here, you knew what could happen. Would happen. Why are you fighting it?" There was a pause. "Wait, why are you dressed?"
"Why wouldn't I be dressed to hike through the woods, no clothes is how you get ticks." Stiles realized wait yeah that was a fair bit of naked in the woods today. But it was California, and his best friend was a werewolf, so like it wasn't even in the top twenty of weird.
"He isn't running, so back the fuck off, before I arrest you." The deputy had moved between them. "Or worse, I get out of the way. Because if you couldn't read the murder on his face when you let loose that pathetic alpha call, that's really on you."
"Really? I need to be scared of Stiles?" Theo laughed and it was a really annoying sound. "You both need to be scared of me."
Stiles tried to look around the deputy but the deputy kept moving, blocking. Then the alpha growl from Theo was different. "Oh shit, he's a werewolf. Deputy, you gotta run, I can keep you safe."
There was a laugh from the deputy. "I'm not going to be scared of a bitten wolf. A silly little pup, who can't even read an omega enough to know they will never want him. You want to run now," the deputy said. Theo didn't seem to be moving. "NOW!"
And okay that was a call. It was three calls and the scent that came off the deputy spiked.
Theo finally seemed to get the hint. There was a whimper and the guy took off. "Loser," Stiles called after him. "you better run!"
The deputy turned and looked at him, eyebrows almost in his hairline. Stiles said the first thought that popped into his head, "your uniform is torn, that is like three violations of the code."
"Those rips happened, dealing with all the alphas who wanted to claim your ass!"
Stiles was confused, looked around but it was just them. "What alphas?"
There was a growl from the deputy. "I am going to eat you."
Stiles rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, big tough alpha. Who did you call? You said, sir? When is my dad getting here. I need him…for reasons…"
The deputy closed his eyes for a moment.
Stiles shrugged and started walking.
"You are going the wrong way, idiot. The co-ordinates you sent are more east."
"Oh. Wait did my dad send you?"
"He did, he said he couldn't make it in time, and as a Hale I know these woods could get to you quickest."
"No offense, but you are a deputy, like a super green one, been on the force what two months?" He remembered his dad talking about the new guy. "Doesn't quite meet my needs."
The deputy got in his face, "I am Derek Hale, son of Talia Hale, the alpha of Beacon Hills. The best alpha on the west coast, the guardian and horror of these woods. I am a deputy which gives me authority in the human world, and I am a biological alpha. That is threefold authority, which the fae will respect, since they aren't even supposed to be here in the first place!"
"I mean, there are a lot of alphas?" Stiles pointed out gently. "Remember, one third of the world's population are alphas?" He gave the guy a bit of a pat, "so don't think your mom, even though the Hales are crazy rich, counts as the alpha of all alphas."
"I honestly didn't think from the way the sheriff speaks about you, you would be this much of a moron."
"Hey!" Stiles paused, "what does my pops say about me?" He was kind of curious. "Wait, you know about things?"
Derek let out a roar, and his fangs dropped. "This is our territory, and the fae are going to learn what happens when they don't pay homage to Talia Hale."
Stiles froze, "oh shit," he cursed. "You are hot. And a werewolf. Huh, that's a problem for future me to deal with. Let's go talk to the fae. I'm an emissary you know, so you need to let me do the talking." Stiles found himself picked up, shook a bit. Which rude. He lightly bopped the deputy with his bat. "Be a good little wolf, the fae won't wait much longer."
"You are a fucking moron, and I am going to let the fae steal you away."
"No you aren't," Stiles grinned at him, found himself dropped. He stood up, brushed off his pants. "Right which way to the fae?"
There was some cursing and then the guy started stalking through the woods. Stiles followed, "do you know what is going on with all the naked anyway?"
"It's the annual mating run, you idiot."
"Ohh," Stiles paused. "Oh."
"Exactly."
Shit, this was a problem, was all Stiles could think. But cranky pissed of fae were more of one, so they had to press forward.
Noah managed not to roll his eyes until the couple had left the check in table to head to the medical tent. But the second they were gone, he absolutely did.
"Noah, be nice to the couples, they did register to court. The mating run works."
"Talia, I respect you so much, but those two are going to bang it out for a couple more weeks until they realize all they have is chemistry and file the dissolution of courting. They clearly only agreed because they were worried we would judge them for using the run for a good fuck."
"You are so cynical," she chided. But she sighed, "they really didn't smell that compatible though."
"Ten bucks on it?" Noah grinned.
"Sheriff Stilinski!" Talia looked scandalized. But then she grinned, "Agreed. I give them a month."
Noah snorted at that, and then next grouping to emerge from the woods, looked satisfied and not a single on registered for courtship. "Looks like legally sanctioned boning, is winning out over tradition here, Talia."
"Give it time, the ones out early are the ones who are using it more for revelry, than long term thinking about their future. The mating run, lets you get in tune with your nature. Feel that connection to who we once were. Let's us be free."
Noah had to love her steadfastness in this. "These days people pair up just as much on dating apps as they do on runs."
"Or in brawls at children's amusements." Talia was giving him side eye. "Do I get that story?"
"I was still in the academy, but on a two week shadow with a guy. We got a call about potential violence at the Chuck E. Cheese. We get there and adults are just shouting at each other, not caring that there are kids watching. We approach, and the deputy I was with, tried to calm everyone down, and then this big dude, like clearly worked in fields or rigs or something said, that the girl couldn't be that good at skeeball and stole his son's tickets. This five foot two in heels woman just hauls back and punches him in the throat, and starts just spewing the most insane filth I have ever heard anyone say."
"You smell like love."
Noah smiled, the ache dull at this point, so that mostly the good was all that remained. "Since she threw the first punch she was the one arrested. And I uhh bailed her out. She came up up to me outside, poked a finger in my chest, and said she didn't owe me shit for me choosing to bail her out. I said absolutely. She then took me back to her place and we never looked back."
Talia leaned against him, kissed his cheek, "perhaps there are places other than runs, to show us who our mates are."
Noah would have responded but he was distracted by the alpha and omega coming up to him. "Hi Scott," he had a bit of an evil grin, and he did not care. "Hey, Kira."
Both of them were trying desperately to hide their nudity from him. "Could we have a robe or something?"
"Nope, you need to go to the medical tent for a tick check and hydration. Don't worry, Nurse McCall is in charge currently in there and she is very well liked by people."
"Mom's doing the checks? Sir, please, oh god, please."
"Nope, old enough to run, old enough for the licensed medical professional to check your taint for ticks." He probably enjoyed how embarrassed Scott looked a bit too much. But also, he had done the run while Stiles was solving the guy's fuck up with the fae. "Get checked quick so you can go back in."
"Why? We're kind of sore? And hungry? I was going to take Kira out for sushi."
"We can have pizza," she promised him.
They were very cute, but also, "Stiles is in the woods right now to make sure that the fae don't try to claim you or this town or something. Maybe you want to help your emissary?"
Scott's eyes went huge and he quickly glanced over to Talia who had a polite smile on her face. 'Umm…"
"Scott," Talia stood and held out her hand. "We will be having a meeting soon, because no wolf should be in Hale territory without being acknowledged by me. Deaton did you incredible and potentially lethal harm by not introducing you to me."
"He mentioned something, said I'd meet someone once I had everything under control. But when I did, he set a new goalpost? Stiles said it was weird."
"Stiles was correct. And you, little one, you are?"
"I glow when you take my picture." Kira looked surprised that she had even said that. But Talia had an air about her that suggest you answer the questions she asked.
"Kitsune, you will be welcome as well. Especially since my nose senses it. You two are true mates. And it is a beautiful thing to see that the run allowed you to realize that."
Noah hid a laugh at the smug look that Talia gave him at that. "You two want to fill out courtship paperwork."
"Yes, please," Scott said. "But if I write stuff, I have to move my hands."
"I'll fill it out and we'll close our eyes when you have to sign it." Children. He had to ask a couple questions of Kira, but the Scott stuff was easy to fill in. "Now then, do the two of you avow to protect each other, support each other, and be true to yourselves in order to be true to each other?"
"Oh, those are the words, I looked them up before," Kira was staring at him.
"They are what my wife, my omega, insisted we say when we filled in this paperwork, because she said I was too nice and she needed to protect my noble ass. You look like you'll be protecting Scott's noble ass a fair bit." That got a giggle from Kira and an affronted look from Scott. But honestly the alpha was too earnest and honestly dim to not have a stone cold bitch looking out for him. Just you know a sunshine and kittens sort of bitch.
Scott and Kira said the words and dear god the heart eyes were obnoxious. He really hoped when Stiles found his mate, that his kid didn't you know look that twitterpated.
Noah and Talia averted their eyes as the documents were signed and he nudged them to the tent. He could hear Melissa shout, and realized oh shit, Scott hadn't told his mom that he was going to run.
"Oh dear," Talia winced in sympathy, Noah couldn't tell if it was for Scott, or for Melissa. "They don't have the best communication?"
"Nah, he is just you know seventeen," Noah explained. "And broke up with his first girlfriend a few months ago. Which he had kept that relationship a bit hidden from us scared how we'd respond to an alpha-alpha which god I get we are all ancient but kids didn't invent this stuff." That got a sympathetic nod from Talia. "They were a good first relationship all drama and doomed tragic story. But Allison and her dad Chris moved away and distance and teens don't mix."
"Ah the Argents, I kicked them off the land. Hunters who didn't do formal territory acknowledgements. They were playing nice, we were going to let it go, but then Kate joined them. She had stalked Derek when Derek was a teenager. Peter explained this to Chris and Chris took them all away. He swore Kate would face judgement, so whatever Peter told him or did must have been impressive."
"Do I want to know what Peter does?" Noah knew the man a bit, hard not to know the richest people in town. "I mean on paper he sells real estate."
"I know, honestly never saw that coming as his cover story," Talia shrugged, "but law school bored him. He swore he had an artist's soul, but he cannot paint for shit. But he is making a killing at it, which is what he cares about the most. And he keeps the territory protected, is all you need to know."
Noah nodded. Before he would have pushed, pried, but with what he had learned from the kids in the last year, some things were best left be. "Well, when you have him talk to Deaton, make sure you are out of town."
"I do quite enjoy you, Noah," Talia nuzzled along his cheek and he had a feeling that had werewolf significance. They winced as the yelling kept coming from the medical tent. Melissa kept ripping into Scott even as she welcomed Kira to the family. "Lord, my children fuck up, but at least they don't do that."
"Yup, you are a superior parent in every way," Noah agreed. He smiled at the couple who had come up that Talia hadn't noticed. "Laura Hale, Lydia Martin, did you have a good run?"
"WHAT?" Talia's voice could hit a good few octaves. "I was there at the line, I didn't see you!"
"Noah gave me permission to already be in the woods. And Lydia is a beta, so she was in the running group that you never notice."
As Talia was at a loss for words, Noah began their paperwork. "Ten bucks these to make it all the way," he said to Talia.
Okay that might have been a bit much as her eyes flared at him. But he began to fill out the couple's info.
"You know, this is a really great day for a walk in the woods."
Derek had just curb stomp kicked a beta who had thought to shoot their shot with Stiles. He turned slowly to where Stiles was smiling at him, bat over his shoulder, other hand oh so helpfully carrying Derek's uniform shirt because it had gotten so ripped keeping alphas away that it couldn't be worn anymore. His tank undershirt had enough blood and dirt on it, he didn't know why he actually still had it on. So he didn't. He threw that to Stiles to, because if he was going to keep the idiot safe, the idiot could carry Derek's stuff.
"Yeah, really great day," Derek muttered. Stiles was smiling at him. It made Derek want to punch him. Derek very much ignored that he liked how much teeth Stiles showed with that grin. "We're almost there."
He couldn't help but think the fae were manipulating emotions, because people never made it this far into the woods during a mating run. And they were encountering more alphas and even a few betas than they should.
"So what do you know about the fae?"
"Don't fuck with them," Derek replied. He made sure the beta wasn't going to follow and they kept moving. "There is a reason Mom doesn't particularly welcome them to the territory. Peter's got wards against them. So it is really weird that they are here."
"Your mom, the alpha werewolf, the monster in charge. The big kahuna."
"We aren't monsters," Derek growled, and knew his eyes flashed. That probably didn't help his case, but he was finding it hard to keep in control around Stiles. He began to understand why a couple of the deputies took night shifts just to avoid the teen coming into the office.
"Sorry, I know that," Stiles actually sounded serious for a moment. But then there was a grin, "but, wait, do you do the goofy shift that Scott does, where the eyebrows disappear and you get mutton chops?"
Derek closed his eyes. He would not kill the teen, he wouldn't. When he opened his eyes, Stiles had already begun moving again. Derek caught up and they walked side by side. If this wasn't just the goddamn worst thing to happen in a while, the walk would almost be nice. He breathed in. "You don't smell much."
"Rude!" The baseball bat, lightly hit his stomach. "It is offensive to comment on an omega's scent. Gets you suspended at school. We are equals you know, blah blah blah. Omega power!"
Derek almost laughed, but didn't want to encourage Stiles. "Yeah, I remember. Had a friend who held the record for that suspension. Didn't say you smelled bad, just not much. And you aren't on drugs. Well you are, but not for that."
"You can tell?"
"Born werewolf," Derek said with ease, because it was kind of nice to be able to talk about it with a human. "I can smell way too much. It is weird at the station sometimes. Do you know that your father cheats on his diet way less than you think he does? I would smell it on him. Also one day someone won a scratch ticket for a few hundred, treated the whole station to takeout, he got the healthiest option. Everyone said he could have cheat day, they wouldn't tell you. But he said no egg roll was worth seeing your disappointed face."
"Oh." Stiles stopped for a moment. He was almost solemn. "Thanks. I know he isn't that unhealthy, but anything I can do to get extra time, I'll take. We're all each other has. Small pack. Just the two of us."
"Your father said you had a wolf and a banshee. Not the smallest ever." Derek found himself wanting to reassure Stiles, the solemnity didn't match the mouthy bastard that seemed his natural state of being. "Big enough to have an emissary in training."
Derek didn't know what to do when Stiles didn't smell happier, but instead sadder.
"I know that's bullshit that Deaton said to make me feel better about Scott and Lydia getting these insane powers." Stiles shrugged, "if it was real, he'd actually tell me something. Not vague be the spark, what the fuck does that mean?"
"Your dad punched him?"
That got almost a giggle out of Stiles. "Yeah he did. Just flat out clocked him, and when Deaton called him sheriff, Dad was all, oh the sheriff didn't punch you, a father did. Deaton actually tilted in submission and called my dad alpha. Dad was in full alpha aggression, which he, like, never does."
Fuck, Deaton only bowed to Derek's mom for certain rituals, said druids were not beholden to biology the others were, they were too much a part of balance, or whatever crap Deaton said. Derek had spent his whole life tuning the guy out. "Look, he's wrong. He's always right about ritual stuff, and he is always wrong about people. He thinks Peter is evil."
"Peter Hale, the real estate guy on the buses? I mean he looks like a douchebag."
"Oh sure," Derek agreed, "Uncle Peter is the absolute worst ever."
"You sound really happy about that? And smell happy too."
"I thought we weren't supposed to comment on scent."
"Hey, you opened the door, I'm just walking through." Stiles started to walk again. "So Peter isn't evil?"
"I mean he fucks people and then kills them, but that doesn't have to equal evil. It's just his job." Derek wondered why Stiles stopped now. "What?"
"You said that sentence. To the sheriff's son. And you are a deputy!" The bat was in his face. "Is Peter coming for any of mine? Is Talia going to hurt my people to remain in charge? I'll take you all out."
"Ohh, your werewolf friend isn't the alpha, you are." Derek ducked as the bat tried to cave his head in. "What did I say now?"
"Nothing!" Stiles swung again and Derek heard a thump as the bat connected with something. "The fae stopped siccing mating run on us and have sent flying monkeys."
Derek looked up and sure enough there were flying monkeys. "I hate the Wizard of Oz. It gave me nightmares when I was three."
"Yeah, they must of read that off of you. Got tired when they realized you would stop every alpha they sent. Guess they figured, hit you where it hurts. But you know what, assholes! Batter up!" Stiles snarled as he said that, and swung, connected with another monkey. "I'm sorry my buddy Scott was a dumbass and broke your fairy ring, but sounds like y'all were not exactly invited to the party."
Derek punched a monkey, which was going to haunt his sleep for weeks. He spun to get another one, but Stiles was already there, protecting him.
"Thanks."
"You have a gun, you could use it, you know."
"How do I fill out an action report on flying monkeys?"
"Fine, I'll take care of this. You go over there and look pretty."
"Yes, alpha," Derek said automatically, and almost choked at the way Stiles' scent went haywire at that. "You smell a lot of much now."
"Dude, busy with flying monkeys! Talk later. You think about what you said. Because like hell I'm letting you take it back."
Derek decided to shut up and move to the side and just watch Stiles destroy the weird fae creatures. It was manic and he couldn't call it untrained, but it was more flailing about than he was used to in a fight. But Stiles was working through them, and with each monkey down, his omega scent increased. Derek was in trouble. He pulled out his phone. "Sheriff, sir, about your son."
"Did you kill him?"
"No," Derek blinked. "Why was that your first reaction?" He ducked as a flying monkey crashed into the next to him. Thing was not getting back up.
"Because he is a pain in the ass."
"He is. No. No I didn't kill him." Derek watched as Stiles ran, jumped and flat out tackled a monkey. "I definitely do not want to kill him. Right now. Before yes. Now is not murder."
There was a groan. "Aw crap, he did something stupid and amazing and now I need to fill out the courting forms for you?"
Derek hadn't been calling to say that. Just to check in. He was sure of it. "Maybe?"
"Dammit, well at least since your love story involves magic and werewolves he can't tell it and outclass my parking lot brawl story. Even if it is the better story now."
Derek wasn't sure how to respond to that, and decided to just hang up. He watched as Stiles finished beating the shit out of flying monkeys, protecting Derek from them. "Yeah, that's right!" Stiles shouted as the last monkey hit the ground and they all disappeared. "Come for my alpha again, and watch what happens."
There was a pause as Stiles turned and looked at him.
"Yeah, you did just say that," Derek offered with a grin. He had known this teen for about fifty minutes now, had heard nightmare stories for weeks. He hadn't believed you knew, the way his mom swore you did, he thought it was all bullshit. "You called me your alpha. And you saved me. All Disney hero like."
He had met this insane moron, and he was done. It was over, and he was finding himself absolutely fine with that.
"Well, shit." Stiles glared at him. "Okay, nope still putting a pin in this, and dealing with fae. Then we'll deal with whatever this is."
"Sure," Derek agreed. "Let's go evict some fairies."
Stiles should really be focused on not being stolen to the fae realm, but it was hard when there was a guy that hot next to him, who smelled of sin and pack, and everything that maybe Stiles dreamed of. "Ever done a mating run?" He asked in a completely chill and casual voice.
"Nope, my big grand rebellion against my mom. She loves them, believes in them. I've dated, had sex, but never a mating run."
"I haven't either. I mean this technically would have only been my second year eligible thing. But last year didn't sign up."
"Too traditional, not that kind of omega?"
Stiles snorted, "god they do say that in every drama or rom-com don't they?" They were getting close and yeah they needed to save the day but he was fairly certain this conversation mattered more. "You called me your alpha. I am an omega. Know it isn't the strongest scent ever. They did testing, perfectly normal omega just you know less of the stank."
"I respond well to orders," was said after a moment. "I could never be the Hale alpha. Technically with all three of us being biological alphas any of us could challenge to be pack alpha, but Cora wants to see the work, and I —"
The guy was quiet, "you respond well to orders," Stiles repeated for him. There was a shrug. "You don't smell perfect."
"Okay?" The eyebrows lowered, clearly confused. "Was I supposed to?"
"Yeah? Stories always say you'll know by their scent who your perfect mate is. Why people supposedly do these mating runs right? Scott breathed Kira in once, and that was it, he was done."
"My parents were the same. Yours?"
Stiles went a little misty eyed as he always did when he thought about his parents perfect courtship, the bedtime story his mom would tell him, and his dad would try to correct. "He was too being in awe of her short jab, and arresting her to notice her scent at first."
"He wasn't just winding my mom up?"
"Nope," Stiles bounced on his toes a little. "She said when he bailed her out and she tore him a new one for thinking she'd thank him on her knees, that he smelled like coffee and sweat, and nerves. Not great combo. Dad wasn't the perfect alpha scent to her, she wasn't the perfect omega scent to him. But they always said it wasn't about perfect, perfect was boring. Perfect would be annoyed when it breathed in stinky feet before the scent, when burned dinner blocked everything else out, when you were puking in the tub next to each other. What does a perfect scent matter when you see galaxies and promises in the remembering to lock your wrist and keep the thumb on the outside."
Oh god, that probably sounded insane. He knew it was insane, whenever he told that to anyone not his dad they laughed awkwardly.
Derek wasn't saying anything, but at least there wasn't the awkward laugh, that was something. But he really wasn't saying anything, so Stiles kept walking.
They reached the place. Stiles thought, there was something in the air, cloying, decay and rebirth at the same time. And magic. More than any alpha or mated pair or anyone else, he could smell magic. Stiles swallowed. "I have a riddle for you, a riddle for the life of my friend."
Several fairies appeared where the circle had been, some small, some the size of he and Derek. They quickly became surrounded.
"You were to bring authority with you, omega."
Stiles started to gesture to Derek, but stopped. Thought of how Derek had called him alpha. How he had protected Derek, how is always protected his dad, Scott, Lydia. How on her good days, his mom had sworn they were because of him.
He looked at the fae and deliberately stepped over the broken line, "I did. I brought fucking me," he growled. He stared the one who had spoken dead in the eye. "I am the future emissary of the Hale pack, I am the future mate of alpha Derek Hale." Okay that one was a surprise when it came out of his mouth, but he was rolling with it, "I am the goddamn spark and protector of the Nemeton, and that is all the authority that you need."
"Is it?" The fairy got right in his face and those were sharp teeth. "Are you sure, do you really believe that?"
"I do," Stiles answered. He really hoped he did.
But she eased back. "Accepted. You are more interesting than Deaton. He has gotten boring to play with. He wants a legacy, a perfect pack. He doesn't think Talia is that. A shame, Talia is hot."
"Hey," Derek almost stepped forward, but Stiles held up a hand and stopped him.
Several fae tittered at that, but he ignored them. Because Stiles asked him to stop so he did. He breathed in, and his eyes flashed.
"Ooh the alpha has spilled innocent blood. Do you know that omega, your mate has taken a life. His hands are bloody."
"So will mine be, one day. Maybe today, maybe with your blood," Stiles answered. "Or you can just leave."
"No, we like playing here. Not right now, but it could get very interesting. If fate's whim pushes a little bit this way, tugs a little bit that way. Oh the play that there is to have here," she crooned, and was swaying as if to a song. "When is a door not a door, Stiles? Remember that question. Just in case for one day."
Stiles ignored it, because you ignored the fae, you didn't get sucked into their ideas, their plans. "My riddle. If you cannot answer that, then you leave Beacon hills for —"
"For three fold generations, since you never presented Talia with a three fold gift," Derek called out.
"What my wolf said."
"Agreed," the fairy said and the others gathered all echoed that agreement. "What is your riddle, Emissary of Beacon Hills."
"Future Emissary." Stiles wanted to make sure that was correct. But the way the fairy smiled at him, had him quieting on that. "I have spent the last three days, researching, everything I could. And before my riddle, I say this, I offer my apologies for Scott McCall, for his blunder, I should have trained him better. To be more aware."
"Very well," was all that was said to that. Stiles found himself surrounded so much he couldn't see Derek anymore and the howl that Derek let at that echoed through the woods. "He calls for Talia, he calls for Peter, for your blood alpha. He calls for war, just because we hide you, little omega. Perhaps he does not follow as much as he thinks."
Stiles could barely breathe as he was surrounded. All he could see was the eyes of the one fae, but it felt like there were hundreds of fingers on him, ready to pull him through the earth if he was wrong. "My question for you is simple. It isn't even a riddle, not really. You see the whole world, this one, others. And you know our children's stories. So I take from them, from tales long enjoyed and ask you this. What is my name?"
The fae all laughed, a dark and terrifying noise.
"You will be a fine pet, Mieczysław Stilinski." The fairy tugged but Stiles didn't move. She tugged again. "Ohh, you do consider your nickname your real name. Lovely. Come along Stiles." But that didn't move him either. She frowned. "It is there in you. I can feel it." A hand pressed to his heart, clawed in just a bit, as if it could dig it out. She was almost panting as she searched for it. "Mischief," she crowed. But he stayed rooted.
The noise from the fae was deafening, a screech worse than Lydia's scream, but it was cut through by a tremendous roar.
He watched as over half of the fae fled.
"Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" Derek almost sang it.
"Not me," Stiles replied. He reached out and Derek's hand caught his. "What's the answer?" he shouted in the fairy's face.
"This is a trick," she was scowling and the visage went from uncanny valley to horrific. "That isn't playing fair."
"Because you do? You guessed thrice, and failed thrice. I will give you one more try, or you lose," Stiles said and there was a rumble from the earth, the land itself warning the fae.
"Omega," she tried.
Stiles winced as the roots from the trees around them began to crawl up the remaining fae; it was the most horrifically beautiful thing he had ever seen as some disappeared, some sank into the earth and the one he had faced off against became a tree.
A large black wolf snarled, leapt but was too late to get their pound of flesh, as the tree became one of a million in the woods.
Stiles laughed hysterically when the wolf peed on it as there was not much else to be done.
"Oh god, Mom," Derek groaned. "My future mate meets you with you peeing on a tree that he just defeated. How do we tell our kids that story?"
"Kids? Yeah, try one," Stiles said. "Max, several years away." He was relieved when Derek nodded in agreement. "And you need to take me on so many dates before we do the mate thing. I want the full courtship buddy. You are rich and gonna shower me in it. Not that I want you for your money. I want you for your looks."
Derek didn't seem too freaked out by that, which is nice. He looked around, "Okay fae shit done with. Now I had a to do list, and you being all you was on that list." Stiles properly looked at him. "God, if you did a mating run, every omega would tackle you."
"Oh no, what a shame I missed out on that experience."
"I'll tackle you at some point don't you worry," Stiles stared at him. "So…"
"So…" was all the reply he got.
"I dropped your shirts, they are lost forever," Stiles said.
"You did, but you were saving me from the monkeys, so you don't have to pay to replace them."
"Do I still smell like a lot?"
"Mellowing. Not perfect."
"Derek!"
Stiles glanced over and quickly away because that was a naked Talia Hale.
"Stiles, can you give my mom your shirt?"
"Yeah," Stiles put the bat down, swung his plaid off, threw it in Talia's direction.
"Thank you, omega, for your generosity. I am honoured."
"She gets like that sometimes," Derek whispered.
"Someone in the family has to have manners." Stiles did not know what to do when he got hugged. "You smell lovely."
"Eh, he's sweaty, and lingering terror isn't the greatest on him."
"Derek, I will ground you," Talia warned him.
"No, I like it," Stiles whispered. He tried to ease away but nope he was still being hugged. "Some help here, oh mighty alpha."
"It's funny."
"I'll let me dad have a gun when he gives you the shovel talk," Stiles muttered and endured the hug until it was done. She eased away and the shirt helped but any movement was going to have him seeing things he shouldn't so he focused on Derek, not a hardship in the least.
"Wait, I walked into the woods on the annual mating day," Stiles put it together. "Oh my god, Scott and Lydia were running. Fuck, I need to know how it went for them. Dude, let's go."
"Derek, alpha, wolf, I don't care, just not dude."
"Sure, we'll see how that goes," Stiles agreed. "Umm, thanks for coming when Derek called for you."
"I will always come for my pack. Your father wanted to follow, but the wolf call needed to be explained to all the civilians and he is surprisingly good at bullshitting. I was warned I better bring you back in one piece, or he'd get really creative with my healing. He and I will make excellent in-laws."
"Dating, then mating. I want the process even though the guy is never getting rid of me." Stiles picked up his bat and started walking. "Talia, I think we need to talk about Deaton," Stiles said.
"I do believe we do." She gave him a scenting that he recognized as a pack thing from the way that Scott would cling to him. "We need to talk of many things."
Stiles went up to Derek pressed his nose right to the guy's neck. "Yeah, not perfect at all."
He was shoved away, but then a hand reached out and Stiles took it.
As they walked Stiles and Talia talked and it was really sounding like he was going to be getting a lot of supernatural lessons in history and culture. From the douchebag real estate uncle. That didn't seem great, but also she said his pack would be protected and yeah he was on board with that.
"Wait, what is your true name?" Derek said at the edge of the woods. "Every name she said was real, I could feel it. Inside, they were all you."
"Yeah, they were, it was a trap not a riddle, just like they do to humans all the time. Lots of people call me lots of things and they are all true, they are all my real name. So they were all right, but they were also all wrong. I picked one that no one but one person in the world does. Lots of people have seen it, but no one would know but us that it was a true name for me."
"Well, aren't you clever?"
Stiles glanced over towards the voice. "You look even douchier in person than on the bus ads. Wow, that's impressive."
"The goddess was smiling on me today, bringing me the best new family members ever," Talia breathed out. "I will catch a buck and honour her with it, in thanks for these three fold gifts."
"I'm going to sit in on the lessons," Derek whispered, "so you and Uncle Peter don't either kill each other or plot to take over the world."
"You know that's fair."
Stiles squinted at Peter Hale, and the man just smiled but offered Talia proper clothes. Talia dressed and they made the rest of the way through the woods. The party in the clearing for after the mating run was in full swing, people dancing, eating barbecue, living it up in various states of dress.
"Stiles!"
Stiles turned and saw his dad running towards him. Stiles let go of Derek and ran into his dad's arms. "Why didn't you tell me it was the mating run?"
"I did! There were post its on every door of the house, messages on your phone, the banners in town? The cars that would have all been parked?"
"You expect me to notice measly hints like those?"
Stiles could feel the Hales just behind him.
"Stiles, I swear to god, I am going to —" the sentence was not finished and he was pulled into a tight hug and breathed in his father's alpha scent that was always a mix of frustrated but comforting whenever those words said.
"Oh my god, that was the true name," Derek groaned.
"Hey, Dad, that's my mate."
"Sounds about right," his dad agreed. "Already filled out the paperwork and forged your signature on it. Peter there, forged Derek's so we could get it in before the event closed. You get to say for the rest of your life you met your guy on a mating run."
Stiles growled a bit. "Derek, we have to light our courtship paperwork on file, that cannot be the story we tell anyone. Ever."
"I'm going to get you food. You look grumpy, like you need food," Derek decided.
"Vile betrayer, help me abuse your power as a deputy to steal and destroy government paperwork!" Stiles shouted after him. Luckily the town was well used to Stiles and no one took him seriously.
Well almost no one. Peter slide over, "I can help with that. For a price, of course."
Stiles stared at Peter. He leaned in. "You smell perfect you know. Neat trick."
"Isn't it? I'm full of neat tricks. It is why Deaton hates me."
"Okay, we're going to be pals," Stiles said.
"The hell you are," his dad replied and was in between them. "Talia," he called and Stiles watched Peter get dragged away.
"Boo," Stiles declared.
"Go climb your alpha, see if he can carry you."
"Ooh, good call, thanks Pops." Stiles ran, and when he saw Derek's back, he jumped and instead of Derek catching him, they both wiped out.
"Well that wasn't rom com perfect," Stiles complained. "Do over."
"Ow!" Derek shouted. The people near by stopped and stared at them. "You definitely are not perfect."
Stiles helped Derek up. "Who wants perfect anyways?"
"Not a damn clue," Derek answered.
Stiles grinned and this time when he leapt, Derek caught him.