Shadow of a Wolf, Body of a Man

He knew what he was to Derek, at least as much as he could understand as a human. He knew what staying safe meant and what doing something that would get him killed meant. And he was still Stiles. Love included, he was still Stiles, and he was absolutely still the guy who was willing to throw himself in front of whatever it took to keep the people he cared about safe. He was also pragmatic enough to know better that to throw himself in front of anything for the hell of it. He had no sudden urge to get a giant bite snapped out of his ass by an angry witch. His brain had already received a big enough bit. And, god, he’d really love to punch the hell out of whatever particular witch had aimed that spell in he and Derek’s direction. Because it had been wrong. It had stolen so much more than their memories. It had stolen a knowledge that had already hurt Derek and it had made him feel it fresh all over again. That was beyond cruel and it was so fucked up. It had left Beacon Hills and Scott and his father open to possible harm, had left them worried and afraid. And everything was different for everyone now. Stiles wouldn’t change that, couldn’t even try to want to, because he had everything he needed. He wanted that, wanted it, however selfish that might be. He wouldn’t give the last week back, wouldn’t because he had this now and it meant so much more than he’d thought was possible. He was in love. And screw everything that had come before; it was a part of what made him feel whole now. Stiles swallowed and moved forward, fingers curled in toward his palm, and he gave Derek one sharp, slightly-terrified look before going with Scott. It felt like he was holding his breath, even if he could actually hear each breath leaving and going in. He nodded once more at Derek, a mirror of the wolf’s gesture, and then he crept in, his feet following Scott’s steps.

Now it was less of a priority, and more of a deep seeded need. He couldn’t lose Stiles, he couldn’t bare to think about it. He’d die without his anchor and his mate. He’d seen what losing his family had done to Peter, what burning and watching them all die had done, and knew now why he couldn’t help himself. He didn’t think he’d be able to stop if Stiles ever got hurt. He’d hunt them down, he’d slaughter everyone involved, or he’d die trying. He understood that now, now he’d found a mate, now he’d let someone in.

His head seemed to be swimming, but he could still hear Stiles’ heartbeat, how it seemed to grow faster as he came in to view, worried about him. It helped him focus, but he couldn’t afford the distraction, these witches needed to die, he needed to know they weren’t going to lose their memories again, not when he’d finally found someone, found love.

He could hear cluttering, thuds and thumps of fighting and he tried to focus, scrunching up his eyes as he tired to force himself to see, to look at Stiles as he calls to him. He avoids the fight Scott seems tangled in, heading to his boyfriend, just as the human stumbles in front of him.

“You okay?”

His brows arch, giving him that look, the ‘do I fucking look okay?’ look, but then remembers all they’ve been through and sighs “I’ll be fine. I’m healing.” he said with a nod to the teen, trying to be reassuring before he looked to Scott. “Basement… gimme a second!” he rested his back against the wall, closing his eyes before his hand went to reach for Stiles’ forearm, giving a small squeeze. 

“Just a little dizzy.” he assured him and smiled before taking a breath and pushing himself from the wall with a nod to Scott before both wolves dove at the witches, Derek aiming for the basement door as he did so, knocking it open as he and the witch tumbled down wooden stairs and into a room he wouldn’t of recognised even if he could see it properly. It was dark, little lights he took as candles, and it stank, incense probably, but whatever it was, it made him want to sneeze, too strong for any wolf to take for long. 

         and beat the crap out of whoever is messing with Stiles.”

            I was speaking the truth.”