Eli Hale

Connor frowned a little at the pain radiating still off of Eli, it hadn’t been a move that would have really phased a wolf, not one familiar with fighting and Connor’s frown deepened as the wolf didn’t look at him.

“Oh no, not a chance. Your Alpha’s gonna have my head for knockin’ ya out like that. I’m not riskin’ more of her wrath because I let ya wander the woods alone with a concussion.” Connor kept pace easily with the other wolf, who’s heart was loud, beating in his chest erratically.

“So you ask him to lunch, or get him a tea at the coffee shop. Sometimes watching lame movies is fun together, because then you can both mock how bad the movie is.” Scott said with an easy smile at his nephew, squeezing Eli’s shoulder. “I’m sure you didn’t make a bad impression, I think you’re being way too hard on yourself.” Scott blinked a little and bumped into Eli. “You think I’d lie to you like that? Wow that hurts.” Snorting a laugh, Scott lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “I think she just found my awkwardness charming more than anything. I still don’t know why she gave me the time of day.”

Connor had long since slumped to the ground, back against a tree and arms on his knees; drawn to his chest. He was so fucking dead, Talia was going to kill him for wrestling - apparently too hard - with the youngest pup in the pack. A direct grandson of the Alpha himself and he’d knocked him out. Eli groaned in pain, slowly coming to and Connor perked up, eyes widening as he looked over at Eli. 

“Eli?”

He rolled over, clutching his sides as he finally struggled to his feet and Connor pushed himself up immediately, taking a few steps towards Eli. “Wait, hold on. Ya might have a concussion; we can still get ‘em. Even bein’ wolves.”

Connor’s voice was quieter, guilty at how he’d knocked the wind out of Eli.

So much for making a quick getaway seeing as Connor was quick enough to stop him in his tracks. Eli couldn’t look him not with how hard he was probably blushing. God his heart needed to stop doing the bullshit of thumping so hard and betraying him.

Laura still couldn’t believe it, that Cora was still alive, and that they had another member of their family that hadn’t been lost to flame. One thing at a time though, Brazil was really far away and Derek was here in Beacon Hills by the sound of it, from what this teenager was saying. Laura ran a hand through her dark hair and let the red fade from her eyes as she looked at Eli. He wasn’t familiar, though the soft, almost sad eyes definitely made her think of her brother. Could he be Derek’s son? If that was the case - how long had Laura been dead? How did she come back?

“To Der?” Confirmation. Eli was his son, and she’d clearly been dead a long time. Because he was at least fifteen.

“If you believe me, I want nothing more than to see my brother again.”

“Yes to Der.” It was an odd nickname but he did feel like he had heard someone use it before. “Okay but you have to promise me you won’t end up lying to me and stabbing me in the back.” Like his uncle Peter. Well not like his uncle ever did anything to him, but he had seen the older wolf do it to his dad multiple times.

Laura tsked softly and pat her pockets uselessly. “I don’t have a way to prove it, other than going to the police and having them fingerprint me for you kid. I don’t have an ID anymore.” Laura ran a hand through her dark hair, wrinkling her nose. “Dead? Jesus, well that explains the scarring.” She muttered before brightening up, eyebrows lifting in surprise. “Cora is still alive? God, I thought we lost her too.” Her shoulders slumped a little in relief and she huffed. “I’m Laura, seriously. Pinkie promise, I’m not lying.” Laura flashed her eyes, vivid red at the boy. “Derek’s my little brother.”

Eli thought about getting the sheriff involved, Not to arrest her but to prove she was who she said she was and not lying. Though she surprised him with how excited she got about Cora. Though it did make him narrow his eyes at her. Maybe she really was telling the truth since he remembered the stories his dad told him about Cora. How he thought he’d been dead. There were also the stories about Laura about how she was an alpha and the one that would be taking over the pack when the time was right. Though that never happened. It seemed like everything was adding up even the mentioning of the scar which was the area his father told him that she got slashed in half.

Laura wrinkled her nose, looking the young wolf over, eyebrows furrowing. She couldn’t place the other scent that helped make up the boy’s scent. But Derek’s scent was all over him, the same earthy smell that made up her brother’s was present on him. Just like that however, his scent went bitter and acrid with fear and Laura huffed.

“Calm down pup. I’m not going to hurt you.” She waved a hand lightly, straightening up and crossing arms across her chest. “Elijah…Hale?” Laura’s expression softened a little and she blinked, eyebrows furrowing more for a moment. “Derek’s my brother. I’m Laura Hale.”

Derek didn’t let Eli go, holding the young wolf tight in his arms; like he’d slip through Derek’s fingers if he did. Eli was a teenager, and he hated being babied, but moments like this? Derek cherished because they were some of the few moments that Eli let him baby him still. Derek wrapped his arms around Eli, holding him tight as he buried his nose into his pup’s soft curls. He’d made mistakes, and like with everything else he’d spend forever trying to make up for them all, including scaring his son the way he did in a desperation to save him.

Eli’s apology was like a punch to the gut and Derek shook his head firmly. “Eli, no. You’re not a bad son, you never have been. You’re a good kid and I’m lucky you’re my son.”

Eli normally pushed away, but he felt like he’d been pushing his father away too much, hurting his poor father in a way. All because he was still a little scared. It was so dumb when he actually thought about it because his father had never once in his life hurt him. So Eli snuggled in and held his father tighter, enjoying the warmth.

“Yeah, no it’s just as simple as asking him out. Just, ask him to go to coffee or something, go to see a movie. It doesn’t have to be some weird showy thing.” Scott’s eyebrows lifted and he coughed, stifling the start of a laugh with it. “I’m sure he doesn’t think you’re a loser, you’re super cool. You just have to talk to him. I’m sure he’ll say yes.” Scott smiled sympathetically and nodded. “Dating is complicated and weird, and it doesn’t stop being that way.”

Eli fixed him with a scowl and Stiles snorted a laugh at the expression. “You look just like Derek.” He ruffled Eli’s hair lightly. “You don’t have to protect me kid, I’ve dealt with enough of Derek’s angry eyebrows and growling threats that I’m just not really afraid of him anymore. But you shouldn’t discount how much he loves you Eli; seriously.” Derek loved Eli, more than anything; it was so obvious. But he was still learning, trying to be the best dad he could. “He’s a huge dork, he likes nerdy things - he just pretends he doesn’t.” Stiles whispered conspiratorially before grinning at Eli. “You’re just gonna have to keep working at it and be patient with yourself dude. Control will come with time.”

An annoyed huff came out of Eli at the mention of looking like his other father. Though before he could protest his hair was being ruffled making the young wolf make an odd squawk like sound. That’s how Stiles got hit with a mix of a scowl and pout, hair now a huge miss. Not like it stayed for long as it turned to a slight smile. “Hey I can say the same. Dad really does love you too. You’re important to him. And I’m sure he knows you wouldn’t ever let me get hurt or in trouble.”

Connor was hit immediately with two thoughts; one - that it had gone way too easily, and two - that Eli was knocked out and Connor was absolutely dead. Eli made this cut off - strangled noise as he hit the ground and Connor stopped, standing up. He looked down at Eli, who was slowly losing the shift and he made a soft, wounded noise. “Oh my god. The Alpha’s gonna kill me?” Connor ran a hand through his hair, pacing away from Eli before returning to his side. “Holy kickin’ Christ.”

It took a bit longer than expected to actually wake and when he did a drawn out groan came out of the young werewolf. Green eyes then fluttered open sluggishly and when he tried to get up he let out a pained noise. A hand came to the spot he was hit and he flopped back down. Sadly, that only got Eli to groan in pain some more feeling pain in his back as well. It took Eli another moment more before his eyes opened again to catch the sight of Connor. Shame instantly hit the young wolf getting him to roll to his side and attempt to get up. It was a struggle but he did it as he held his sides. His face flushed though he wasn’t sure if it was embarrassment or that he was somehow very much impressed by Connor’s strength. It could have been a mix of both. Either way right now Eli wanted to go hide. The guy probably thought he was a loser.

“I’m a man ‘a my word.” Connor drew an x over his heart and grinned at Eli. “Aye, pack is pack, but ya don’t gotta explain it t’me.” He liked Eli already, the kid could hold his own enough with him in the sarcasm department and that was a big bonus to Connor. “Dontcha hold back now. I can take ya.” He eased into a fighting stance, sinking down, hands curled into fists, no claws yet because even though they healed, Connor wasn’t thrilled about it becoming bloody yet.

He snorted a laugh, flashing Eli a grin. “Don’t get too cocky now.” Connor met Eli’s gaze head on. His expression grew serious and when the young wolf charged him, swinging at his side, Connor twisted, grabbing the outstretched arm and dragging Eli in close. His fingers grabbed a fistful of Eli’s shirt and he flipped the young wolf over his head, slamming him into the ground.