Chapter 7
Derek woke up warm and almost perfectly relaxed. It was the best sleep he had had in six years. He slowly opened his eyes and found himself nuzzled into someone’s neck. As he woke up more he let his senses take over. Someone was curled almost underneath him, Cora, and someone’s hand was curled in his hair, he assumed Lydia. That means the neck belonged the Stiles. He breathed in deeply and found the scent of cinnamon again, stronger now. He listened and found four heartbeats, meaning no one had left, and each heartbeat was soft and steady, meaning he was the only one awake.
Stiles shifted, turning on his side toward Derek. Lydia’s hand slid out of Derek’s hair and curled around Stiles’ waist, pulling him back to her, but Stiles had a grip on Derek, so Cora and Derek were both pulled as well. Stiles’ arms curled around Derek and he buried his head in Derek’s neck as he curled his right leg around Derek’s. Derek didn’t move, let alone breathe. He had always known Stiles was special, but now it was beginning to fully hit him. Stiles smelled like home. Stiles felt like home. Stiles was his home, and he never wanted to leave.
Derek must have drifted off again, because the next thing he knew the Sheriff was opening the door.
“Hey-” He stopped with a smile.
“What’s up dad?” Stiles whispered, lifting himself away from Derek.
“I’m heading out. Did Scott?”
“Nope. It was the Alpha though.”
“Damn. I doubt you guys are doing anything today, but let me know if you are.”
“Okay, be safe.”
“You too.” The door closed and Stiles let out a puff of air before nuzzling back into Derek’s neck. Derek slipped his hand up and curled it in Stiles’ hair, pulling him closer. Stiles relaxed into Derek’s touch. He could feel the tense muscles, and Stiles wanted to believe it was because he didn’t want to let go, but he wouldn’t delude himself into thinking Derek Hale would A. be anything but straight and B. ever have the possibility of being into Stiles. Stiles drifted off again.
Lydia slid out of their pile and slipped out to go to the bathroom. When she came back, she smiled. Stiles was curled into Derek, who held her brother in a vice like grip. Derek’s eyes flicked over to her and her smile widened. He raised an eyebrow and she scanned Stiles’ room, finding a notebook. She opened to the first empty page and scrawled a large message. ‘Figure out he was your mate yet?’ She held it up and had the pleasure of watching Derek’s face turn a violent shade of pink and see his eyes go wide and see his mouth open and close like a fish. Cora let out a soft giggle as she read it, causing Derek to tense.
‘Relax,’ Lydia wrote under her first message. ‘You better tell him or he’ll pine till he dies. You hurt him I kill you.’ Derek’s eyes went wide and he looked down to the sleeping Alpha. Scott growled and they all looked at him. He was glowering at Derek. Stiles groaned and opened his eyes. He realized who he was up against and blushed before turning to face Scott. Derek’s lips twitched when he realized Stiles didn’t necessarily move away from him though.
“Dude what’s up,” Stiles asked drowsily, and god did Derek want to smile and curl into Stiles. He didn’t fully stop the urge, and found himself leaning his head against Stiles.
“I don’t trust Derek.” Scott bit out.
“Wow dude really. What’s up with you and the Hale hate?” Stiles was confused.
“He’s shifty Stiles. You can’t trust him.”
“Yes I can’t trust the man who has saved not only my life multiple times, but the life of my sister too. I completely see your reasoning as to why I can’t trust him.” Scott jumped from the bed and snarled. Stiles sat up but didn’t fully get up. Derek and Cora tensed, ready to protect the Stilinski twins.
“He left! Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I don’t know, he’s using you?!” Scott howled.
“Yes!” Scott paused and Derek looked at Stiles. “Of course, I’ve thought about it you dumb ass. You’ve known me since I was 8! You really think that wouldn’t have crossed my mind? Now shut up and go back to bed. Or make breakfast. Breakfast sounds pretty good.” Scott looked lost. He hadn’t been expecting Stiles to say yes. He was hoping to open Stiles’ eyes, but it seemed like it had the opposite effect.
“When did he save you and Lydia?” He asked softly.
“He saved me about 9 hours ago if you don’t remember.” Stiles bit out. He was so done with this conversation.
“Stiles has been kidnapped by witches three times now. I was with him once. Derek tracked us down, all three times. Because it just happened like that. Because no one else could have found us. Because of reasons.” Lydia explained. Stiles tilted his head at his sister in confusion.
“Ooookay. So if you’re done being a whiny five-year-old, I’m going back to sleep.” Stiles flopped back onto the bed and sighed. Lydia and Cora were both glaring at Scott, but Derek was watching Stiles, trying not to show emotions. Cora slipped out of bed and grabbed Scott’s ear, dragging him from the room. Lydia glanced at her twin before following.
As soon as they were gone, Derek wound his arms around Stiles.
“Wow Sourwolf, any more cuddling, and I’ll think you’ve turned soft.”
“You thought I was using you?” Derek whispered.
“Yes. Of course I did Derek. You just showed up out of the blue, claiming to want to find the Alpha. The only reason I know you aren’t is because you said you were staying. You weren’t lying.” Derek grunted. “When did you become so closed off and broody damn.”
“Probably when I lost my entire family.”
“Sassy jackass.” They laid there contentedly for several minutes.
“I’m not leaving.”
“Good.” Stiles sat up and stretched. “C’mon I smell breakfast.” Derek followed Stiles from the room and into the kitchen where Cora and Lydia had Scott cornered.
“What the fuck is your problem Scott? We are trying to help you!” Lydia snarled.
“What’s going on?” Stiles asked. He was really tired of Scott’s attitude.
“I can handle things by myself. I don’t need help from you people. You’ve lied to me since we were 8!”
“Dude seriously? We’ve gone over this.” Stiles sighed.
“I don’t care. I’m outta here.” Scott pushed past Stiles.
“Scott wait!” But he was already gone. “Well fuck.”
“He’ll come around. We just have to convince him.” Lydia said calmly.
“What’s he pissed off about now?”
“He’s upset you never told him about any of this. Wolves, magic, anything like that.” Cora explained. Stiles just rolled his eyes. “We made pancakes though.” Stiles looked suspicious.
“You two? Cooked?”
“I am fluent in archaic Latin. I think I can make pancakes.” Lydia snapped. Stiles just laughed as slipped into a kitchen chair as Cora put a plate in front of him. He gave her a smile.
“So Stiles, what are you doing today?” Cora asked, taking the seat across from him. Lydia sat on his right, and Derek on his right.
“It’s Saturday.” Cora raised an eyebrow. “I’m visiting Peter.”
“You really do go every Saturday,” Lydia stated.
“How do you not know that?” Cora asked.
“This is the first Saturday Lydia has been home in like 2 years.” Stiles explained, digging into the pancakes. The Hales both turned to Lydia.
“Why was I only yelled at for leaving?” Derek grumbled.
“Because Lydia didn’t leave dumb ass. Neither did Cora. They both have lives and they both were here when they were needed.” Stiles explained. Lydia shifted in her seat. She didn’t feel like she was here for him. She feels like she left her brother to fend for himself. She gave Cora and Derek a sad look. They had to change Stiles point of view. If he thought she had been there for him, they need to give him a better example. They both nodded slightly, understanding her look, before eating their pancakes.
After breakfast, Stiles threw on jeans and his red hoodie before grabbing his keys. “You guys going to hang out here?” He asks the wolves lounging on the couch.
“I’m heading back to the house.” Derek grunts.
“Really, you’re staying at the house?” Cora asks sadly. Derek just shrugs.
“Grab your stuff, bring it here. See you guys later.” Stiles slammed the door and hopped in the jeep. When he pulled up to the hospital, Peter’s nurse, Jennifer, waved him through. Peter was in his usual place, in a wheelchair. “Sup’ Hale?” Stiles was quiet for a while, sinking into his chair. “Laura’s dead. A wolf killed her and became the new Alpha. Cora’s back in town. Derek showed up too, the asshole. The Alpha bit my friend Scott. Things are fucking terrible.” Stiles launched into an explanation about everything that had happened since Laura was found. After about an hour later he let out a sigh and stood up. “I’ll be back in a week.” Stiles reached out and squeezed Peter’s hand before leaving.
Lydia and Cora were pacing in front of the door when he got back. When he walked in Cora was shaking and her eyes were gold. “Guys what happened?” Cora took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
“The police got an anonymous tip telling them where the rest of the Laura’s body was.” Lydia said with a stormy calm.
“I see.”
“No you don’t. Dad called. They left the station about twenty minutes ago. Derek is there.”
“Fuck lets go.” They all ran for the jeep. Stiles broke numerous traffic laws on the way there and thanked god his father wasn’t patrolling. When they got there, the party was in full swing. There were about six cop cars and several trucks with shovels. They hopped out of the jeep and made a beeline for the Sheriff, who was listening to Derek.
“Derek, we had to get a warrant. This is completely legal.” Derek growled.
“Stop growling Sourwolf. Dad what’s going to happen?” Stiles asked.
“If we find her, Derek will be taken into custody for questioning. He most likely has an alibi, and if he doesn’t, there is always the fact that he is staying at the Sheriff’s house. Now you all need to go wait somewhere not in my direct line of sight.” The Sheriff walked over to one of his deputies and asked a few questions. Derek sat down on the steps and glowered. Lydia, Stiles, and Cora and looked up at the house. They all latched hands and felt the flood of memories, before joining Derek on the stairs. They sat there for almost an hour before the Sheriff came up to them, a grim look on his face. “Derek Hale, please put your hands behind your back, we would like to take you into custody to answer some questions.” He bit out. Derek stood and obliged. “You three go home. I’ll call you later.”
They all shuffled to the jeep and watched as Derek was taken into custody. “Any way we could find out who it was?” Cora huffed.
“We don’t need to.” Lydia stated. “We already know it had to be Scott.” Stiles let out a growl.
They waited at the Stilinski house all day. And most of Sunday before the Sheriff called.
“We have to hold him for a while longer. He has no fantastic alibi so he needs to be questioned more. I’ll be home tonight with dinner.”
“Okay see you tonight.” Stiles hung up and recalled the conversation to Lydia.
“I’m going to kill your little friend.” Cora growled.
“There’s a line.” Lydia informed her. They were sprawled on the couch watching Star Trek reruns. Lydia would have never admitted she loved Star Trek before, but now she realized that was the stupidest thing in the world.
When the Sheriff arrived home, dinner was a quiet affair. “At this point. I’m guessing Friday.” Cora just growled. “Yea well it might be shorter. I’m pretty sure that staying at the Sheriff’s house is probably pretty good.” Lydia hugged her father.
“Just be safe. We don’t need you to get in trouble for all the Supernatural stuff.” The Sheriff just laughed.
“I brought myself in as soon as I fell in love with your mother. I’ll be out early, you two be good at school tomorrow. What’s your plan Cora?”
“I’m enrolling in school tomorrow. I have a feeling I’ll be here for a while.” The sheriff nodded before heading up to bed.
“Anyone wanna watch a movie in bed?” Stiles asked. Cora nodded and they all went up to his room. “Lydia I don’t think we’ve shared a bed this much since we were ten,” Stiles teased.
“Well get in already, I need some pack cuddles.” Cora grumbled.
“We aren’t even pack,” Stiles laughed.
“You two will always be my pack. I still feel your bonds.”
“Do you really?” Lydia’s tone was curious and analytical.
“Yep, so cuddle me.” Lydia and Stiles both curled around Cora while she flipped through the channels, but they barely started the movie before they drifted off.