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“I’m so over this courting bullshit,” Stiles complained.
Scott gave him a sympathetic look. “It doesn’t have to be this hard. It can even be fun if you want it to be.”
“Says the Beta who doesn’t need to worry about this crap.”
“Beta’s still court.”
“Yeah, but you guys don’t have a deadline over your head,” Stiles grumbled. “If I wasn’t an omega I wouldn’t need to have these meetings.”
“Being an omega is spec—“
“Don’t you dare,” Stiles cut him off. “You think having to submit to an alpha makes me special? You think being treated like a fragile little flower is special? It’s not! I don’t want to be taken care of. I can take care of myself! I don’t want to submit to an alpha! I don’t want to have sex with one because I have no control of my body!”
“What are you saying? You don’t want an alpha?”
“Maybe I am! How hard is going through my heat without one? Probably not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. It’s probably just alpha propaganda to force omega to have sex with them.”
“So you would rather go through your heat alone, than sleep with an alpha?”
“At this point, yes!”
“Not even if it was Lydia?”
“Yes. You know I’ve stopped crushing on her. Besides, you know Jackson is going to choose her.”
“What about Danny?”
“I don’t want Danny.”
Stiles was starting to get annoyed as Scott started spitting out names like it was the lighting round in a game show. His responses were so automatic that he didn’t even realize what he said until it flew out his mouth.
“So you wouldn’t spend your heat with Derek?”
“No! I wouldn’t—“
His heart leapt. Did Scott know that he was in love with his older brother? Stiles thought he’d been good at hiding it. But then again Scott could read him like no other person in the world.
Stiles ducked his head and ran his hand through his hair. His chest felt too tight. “Scott…”
Scott lifted his hand to stop him from saying anything and Stiles closed his eyes in defeat. Then he felt Scott’s arms around him and he sagged into his chest.
“It’s okay,” Scott soothed. “I’ve known for a while.”
Stiles pulled out of his embrace. “I didn’t mean to—“
“Stiles, did you really think I didn’t notice how you’ve two been actually nice to one another lately? You two, who used to fight worse than he and I? And we are brothers?”
“I don’t know how it happened. I just...he’s just…” Stiles sighed.
“Yeah, please don’t finish that sentence. I don’t want to know why you have the hots for my brother.” Scott knocked his shoulder with his playfully.
“It’s more than that though. I think I’m in love with him.”
Scott’s eyes widened. “Wow. Why haven’t you told him?”
“Because everyone knows your brother hates me. He would probably laugh in my face if I told him.”
“But you guys have been doing better…”
“He’s only being nice because I turn 18 in a couple weeks and I will be going into heat soon after. Everyone is being nice to me! If anyone at school heard that Derek was being mean to the special little omega he would be asking every alpha around to kick his ass.”
“Or maybe he likes you too,” Scott said with a hopeful smile.
“If he did, he would have filled out a mating application.”
The day started like any other day. Rushing to get ready for the day. Barely making it to school on time. Running to first period and giving Lydia finger guns as he shot into his seat; the bell ringing seconds later.
Lydia just rolled her eyes and passed him a breakfast sandwich. Luckily their history teacher didn’t care that they ate in class.
He mouthed, “Thank you, my goddess.”
She ignored him and began taking her notebook out.
When the bell rang, he gave Lydia a wave before heading off to his locker. He was stopped in the middle of the hallway before he could make it though.
“Hey, Stiles,” Matt said, giving him a skin crawling smile.
“Hey,” he said, attempting to walk around him.
“I hope you’ve thought about my offer. I think we would be really great together. You are like my ideal omega.”
Stiles had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. “Thanks but no thanks.”
“Why? I would take great care of you, baby.”
“Well for one I am a man not a baby and two I don’t want to.”
Something flashed in Matt’s eyes but was gone before Stiles could figure it out. He let out a sigh before saying, “At least take the coffee I got for you. To show no hard feelings.”
Stiles knew he should have said no. His father has drilled into him not to accept a drink from anyone unless you’ve seen it poured yourself. But the smell of coffee won him over.
“Fine. But this is not in any way or shape or form me accepting your offer to be my alpha.”
Matt shrugged and handed over the coffee. Stiles headed over to his locker while taking a big gulp of the hot, delicious liquid. He moaned with happiness. What would the world be like without coffee?
When he got to his locker he reached for the dial and felt a flash of dizziness hit him. He blinked quickly to make it go away. That was weird. The moment his finger touched the cold metal, he felt a heat course through his body that made him drop his hand. The coffee cup slipped from his fingers and crashed to the floor, splattering his shoes and the bottom of his jeans. He set his hand on his forehead and could feel himself getting hotter and hotter. What was happening?
“Stiles? You okay? You don’t look too good. Maybe I should take you home.” Matt set his hand on the back of his neck and his knees buckled.
“Don’t—don’t touch me,” Stiles gasped out.
“Come on, baby. Let’s get you home,” he said in a low husky voice.
Stiles squeezed his eyes shut. He felt his dick jump and he wanted to throw up. “No…”
“That’s no way to speak to your alpha,” Matt’s mouth said near his ear.
This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening. He hadn’t turned 18 yet. How could he be going into heat already? It was too soon. He wasn’t ready. He needed to get out of here. He needed to get away from Matt.
“Stiles?”
That was Danny’s voice. Danny would help him.
“Da—Danny…”
That was the wrong thing to do. Danny stepped closer and Stiles watched as his nostrils flared and his eyes dilated.
Stiles scooted closer to his locker as another alpha approached. This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be happening!
“Please…”
“Stiles!”
Stiles let his head roll back on the locker as Derek came running down the hall. He wanted to cry. He was so happy to see that grumpy face.
“Step away from him,” Derek said, pushing the alpha that was reaching for Stiles.
“Get lost, Hale. Stiles is claimed,” Matt said, his eyes flashing red.
“Get. Out. Of. The. Way,” Derek growled.
“He chose me. Being near me set him into an early heat. We are going to be mated.”
No. That’s not what happened. Right? It couldn’t be. It was getting harder and harder to focus on what was going on. He could feel himself getting wet and he squeezed his legs shut as tight as he could. There was a commotion going on in front of him but Stiles couldn’t make out anything as desire began shooting through him. The pressure inside his hole was starting to feel painful. It would feel so good if he just reached back and stuck his finger inside…
“Stiles,” he felt someone shake his shoulder, luckily not making skin contact because he was pretty sure he could cum just from that. “Can you stand?”
Stiles opened his eyes and found Derek in front of him looking concerned. His pupils were dilated, which made another shock of heat shoot through him, but he looked calm. He was in control of himself. Derek would get him out of here. Derek would protect him.
“Yeah,” he squeaked out.
“Come on. We have to get you out of here,” Derek said urgently.
Stiles nodded. Using the locker to pull himself to his feet, Stiles fought off the dizziness to make his way slowly toward the door. He stumbled and a hand caught him around his bicep, again avoiding skin to skin contact. Derek helped him all the way to the door and outside air seemed to help. The scents of multiple alphas disappeared and his head was able to clear slightly.
“I’m okay,” Stiles said.
At least for the moment. Derek didn’t take his hand off his bicep though until they got to the Camaro. He opened the door for Stiles and helped lower him down into the seat. Then he closed the door and Stiles was overwhelmed with the scent of Derek. His hole clenched hard on nothing and Stiles held back a cry.
Derek jumped into the front seat and slammed the door shut. “Oh, God,” he said, burying his head under his arms as he leaned over the steering wheel.
Hearing Derek’s voice made the manic desire in him turn delirious. “Derek,” Stiles whined.
Derek shuttered, whether from lust or disgust Stiles couldn’t figure out. But it did snap Derek into action. He pulled out of the parking lot and sped away.
“Derek, Derek, Derek,” Stiles chanted as he felt himself get close. He was going to cum in his pants just from the scent of Derek. No. He needed just a little stimulus. It wouldn’t take much, just a quick touch of his dick…
A hand wrapped around his wrist. His bare wrist. Stiles thrust his hips up in ecstasy as he shot into his pants. The hand snatched away from his wrist like it had been burned and he let out a low groan.
“Stiles,” Derek was panting. “Don’t… don’t touch yourself...in my car.”
Stiles squeezed his eyes shut as he felt himself get hard again. How could he be hard again so soon? Just from Derek’s words? Of course. It was Derek .
His alpha .
He lost awareness of his surroundings. He didn’t even know the car had stopped until he felt Derek reach over and unlock his seatbelt.
“Come on, Stiles. You’re home. You’re going to be okay,” Derek urged, a frantic look in his eye.
Stiles attempted to get out of the car and felt pain wrack his body. He needed to be filled up right now. There was no time for moving. He needed Derek. Right now. He could turn over and present himself. He could do that. But before Stiles could roll all the way over, Derek was pulling him from the car.
Now he found himself in Derek’s arms. Yes. This was a good place to be. The best place to be. The only place to be. Like a magnet, he was drawn into Derek’s neck. He breathed in deeply and Derek tripped.
“Don’t,” he said, his eyes burning red.
Stiles whined and showed him his neck. Don’t be mad alpha. I’m so sorry. Please let me make it up to you.
Somehow they make up to the front porch and Derek looks down at him. Yes. Look at me. Please look at me. Don’t ever stop looking at me.
“Need...Where...your…?”
His alpha asked him a question. He needed to answer him. But what was he asking of him? He would do it. He would do anything for his alpha.
“Keys! Where are your keys?” Derek choked out.
“Front pocket.”
Derek gave him a look. Right! Derek had his hands on Stiles. He couldn’t get the keys. Stiles slid his hand into his pocket and felt his finger brush over them. It moved his pocket closer to his dick and grazed it. Stiles felt his eyes roll to the back of his head. That felt amazing. He wanted more. This time he reached out his hand and his pocket covered hand slid over his throbbing dick.
“Stiles!” Stiles’ eyes shot open and Derek was leaning his head down. Their foreheads touched and Stiles had a clear shot of Derek’s face. He looked completely broken.
“Focus, please, for me. I need you to unlock the door so I can get you inside,” he said.
Yes, they needed to get inside. Good idea. Stiles was able to pull the keys out this time and he reached over to unlock the door. Derek rushed them inside. He got them to his bedroom in record speed and lowered Stiles gently onto the bed.
When Derek began to pull away, Stiles did what he had been wanting to do for over a year. He placed both hands onto Derek’s face and kissed him. The kiss was hot and frantic and everything . So when Derek pulled away once more Stiles let out a high pitched whine, that would’ve been embarrassing as hell if he wasn’t in the throes of his heat.
“No, no, no come back,” Stiles said, chasing after him.
Derek shook his head and took a large step back. “I called your dad. He should be here soon.”
Where was he going? Was Derek leaving? Something in Stiles shattered and he got to his knees. Derek couldn’t leave.
“Wait. Don’t go,” Stiles begged.
“You’re going to be okay. I promise,” he said, still backing toward the door.
“Wait, Derek. Stay. Please. I want you.”
But Derek shook his head, a sad smile on his face. “That’s your heat talking.”
“It’s not. Really. I—I love you,” Stiles felt like he was on the edge of a cliff and he finally jumped over it. It was terrifying but also exhilarating. It was finally out in the open. Derek knew how he felt now.
“I’m sorry, Stiles,” was the last thing Derek said before shutting his door.
The next few days happen in a blur. At some point he remembered his dad had found him curled in a ball sobbing. He thought Stiles was in pain and called for an omega aid to help him through his heat.
Stiles was in pain, but not because of his heat. Derek had rejected him. He didn’t want him. Out of all the alphas at the school, he was able to stay in control enough to drive Stiles home. Alphas and Omegas stay separate during their heats because Alphas can’t help themselves when they get hit with omega hormones. They go into a frenzy. All self control leaves them and the impulse to mate is at its height. But not Derek. He is so repulsed by Stiles that he was able to control himself and walk away from him. Stiles had never felt more miserable in his life.
When his fever finally broke, the aid helped him into the shower. His legs were still weak but he was grateful to finally feel clean again. While he showered, his dad must have changed his sheets, because when he made it back to bed they smelled like detergent.
His dad asked if he was ready to go back to school and Stiles told him no. How could he go back to school and face Derek? He couldn’t, that’s how. That night he cried himself to sleep.
It had been almost a week since his heat and Stiles still hadn’t gone back to school. His teachers had been sending his assignments everyday to him to do at his leisure. The school would do anything for him at this point to prevent a lawsuit.
His dad had explained that it was the coffee, spiked with some drug, Matt had given him that made him go into heat so early. Matt was expelled and his dad filed a restraining order on him to stay away from Stiles.
The Omega aid had told them that it wasn’t uncommon for them to start their heats a little early (even without being drugged) so he had nothing to worry about developmentally. After all, tomorrow was his birthday, which was not something he was looking forward to.
Stiles was wrapped under the blankets, watching random videos on his phone, when he heard his door open.
“Not hungry, Dad,” Stiles said.
“It’s not your dad,” Scott said.
Stiles groaned.
“Happy to see you too buddy,” he heard Scott say before a body slammed down on top of him.
“Ge’ off!” Stiles groaned out.
“Not until you come out,” Scott said, laying flat out on top of him.
“Don’t wanna.” Scott used his arms to bounce the bed under them, rocking Stiles up and down uncomfortably. “Fine! Get off!”
Scott was still laughing when Stiles surfaced from under the covers. Stiles scowled at him.
“You are the worst.”
“But you still love me,” Scott grinned.
Stiles rolled his eyes and kicked Scott lightly in the side. “How did you even get in? I told Dad no visitors.”
“He’s worried about you,” Scott said, suddenly serious. “We all are.”
“I’m fine, Scott.”
“Then why have you not been coming to school?” Stiles said nothing. “Look, is it about Matt? Because you know he’s not there anymore.”
“I don’t care about Matt.”
“Then what is it?”
Stiles still said nothing.
“Are you embarrassed about...you know, going into heat at school? Because it’s not the first time it’s happened. Omegas go into heat whenever, so it’s not like you had any control of it.”
“I know that Scott. Usually Omegas have time to get to a safe space though. It takes hours to hit fully. I had no time. Minutes. If Derek hadn’t gotten me out of there—“
Stiles swallowed. He had been doing good today about not thinking of Derek. Now it all came crashing down on him.
“I get it. I mean I don’t and probably never will, but I can imagine how terrifying it must have been,” Scott said softly. “Derek was really torn up about it. Mom had to come pick him up from here. Dad brought the Camaro home.”
Stiles flinched at the sound of Derek’s name. He tried to hide it but Scott saw right through him.
“What happened between you and Derek?”
Stiles looked quickly up at Scott before looking up at the ceiling. He let out a deep breath before looking back down. “Nothing. Nothing happened between Derek and I.”
“That’s a lie. Something happened. Derek has been a bigger asshole than normal.”
Stiles felt the anger burst out of him. “Nothing happened. I kissed him. He pushed me away. I asked him to stay. He said no. I told him I loved him. He said sorry and left me all alone during my first heat.”
Stiles pulled at his hair in frustration, struggling to hold back his tears. He’s cried enough this week that he was seriously dehydrated. He was not going to cry in front of Scott about his asshole brother. He was not going to cry anymore, period. Derek was not worth his tears.
Derek and he have been antagonistic toward one another since Stiles met Scott when they were in Kindergarten. Derek was older than them by a year, but they were all in the same grade. Derek had started Kindergarten late (something about his birthday not making the cutline the year before) while Scott was on the younger side and was still four when he started. Scott was adopted by the Hales after his mother passed away in a car accident.
For some reason Derek seemed to hate his guts. Maybe it was an alpha thing or maybe it was because Stiles wasn’t scared of him like everyone else. He may be older and stronger, but Stiles never backed down from a fight when it came to Derek. Scott didn’t always get along with Derek, so it was always Stiles and him against Derek, which seemed to piss him off more. Stiles, being the mischievous little shit he was, would always get Scott to help him with any pranks he had planned towards Derek. It wasn’t uncommon to find Derek chasing Stiles and Scott from room to room in retaliation. The grown ups only intervened when things got violent.
But this year was different. Derek was more laid back now. For a long time Scott and Stiles speculated that he had a secret girlfriend, but he never smelled like another person. He did smell amazing though, which is not something Stiles had ever noticed. Derek normally drove them home from school and then left to go hang out with his friends.
The last few months, Derek would stay home and play video games with the two of them. Stiles saw a whole new side of Derek when they played Mario Kart together. They were all competitive, pushing each other around and hiding other’s views so they would crash, but it was all done in good humor. Stiles found that he really liked Derek being in his space.
Then there were times when Scott would pass out on the couch while watching a movie or be up in his room doing homework, leaving Stiles and Derek essentially alone. Derek was really easy to talk to. How had Stiles never noticed? Well, it probably had a lot to do with the pranks. Stiles liked getting Derek to laugh around him, but it was his smile that made Stiles realize he was in love with him.
“Dude, I didn’t know,” Scott said.
“Well now you do. So if you’ll excuse me,” Stiles said, pulling the covers back over his head.
Stiles yelped when the blanket was yanked off his body.
“You are not going to hide away and stop coming to school because of my brother. You are fearless. So fearless it borderlines stupidity.”
“Hey!”
“I bet I could jump out the window and land on the tree branch outside. ”
“I was able to do it eventually.”
“Just took you breaking your arm. Twice.”
Stiles let a smile slip onto his face.
“Nothing has ever scared you. Are you really going to let Derek keep you from living your life?”
“Well when you put it like that…”
“So you’ll come to school tomorrow?” Scott said, standing up from the bed.
“Fine. I’ll come to school.”
“Awesome! That means you’ll be able to make it to your birthday party at my place after school. Okay, see you later!”
“Scott!” But he was already gone.
The next day, Stiles considered going back on his word and not going to school, just to spite Scott. But in the end, Scott was right. He couldn’t let Derek scare him away anymore.
So he got dressed and made his way downstairs. To say his father was shocked would be an understatement.
“You’re going back to school?”
“Yeah. I figured it was time,” Stiles said, grabbing a piece of toast.
“That’s good to hear, son. Sure you’ll be alright?”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.”
“What about the party at the Hale house tonight?”
It was a fair question. Stiles has celebrated his birthday there every year since he was in diapers. It still took him by surprise.
“I—I don’t know.”
“I can tell them not to throw a big party. It could just be us and the Hales.”
That’s not what he was hesitant about but he couldn’t explain that to his dad so he said, “Yeah, I think I’d like that better.”
School went by pretty fast. He got a lot of “Happy Birthdays'' from everyone. Tackle-hugged by Scott. Balloons in his locker courtesy of Allison. Cupcakes from the expensive bakery downtown from Lydia. And confetti thrown at him all day by Erica and Isaac while Boyd smirked behind them. He even got a burger and curly fries delivered to him from Laura, who was driving Derek’s Camaro; which was weird. He didn’t let anyone drive his car.
Speaking of Derek, he hadn’t seen him all day. He didn’t know if he was more relieved or disappointed about that.
Overall, he was having a good day. Then school ended and he knew he was going to have to see Derek at the Hale house. He was going to have to face him sooner or later. Scott was right. He wasn’t scared of anything. He wasn’t going to let Derek change that.
Stiles drove back home, agreeing to meet Scott at the Hale house with his dad for dinner. He took a shower because he had nothing else better to do and didn’t want to sit around doing nothing. He could already feel his mind begin to spiral and he couldn’t start freaking out now because he promised Scott he would go.
His dad got home and they headed over to the Hale house. He could feel his fingers begin to tingle. A sure sign of a panic attack coming on. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, holding it at bay for now.
Talia and Cora were waiting outside when they arrived. Cora immediately jumped off the porch and shot at Stiles, screaming his name in excitement. He barely had time to brace himself as the 10 year old barreled into his chest.
“Happy Birthday Stiles!” She said.
“Thanks Cor,” Stiles smiled.
“You smell funny.” She tilted her head and took a big sniff. Stiles flinched.
“Cora. Remember what we talked about,” Talia said, walking down the steps.
She pulled Stiles in for a hug and kissed his cheek. “Happy Birthday, dear.”
He knew his smile probably looked more like a grimace as he said, “Thanks.”
“Eric and Peter should be almost done grilling. Scott is supposed to be setting the table but I bet he is digging through the cookies Laura made.”
“I want a cookie!” Cora yelled, racing back into the house.
The three of them followed after her and sure enough Scott was caught stuffing a whole cookie into his mouth. Cora whined that she wanted one too but Talia shooed them out of the kitchen, but not before Stiles could swipe a cookie off the plate. When they got outside, Stiles slipped her the cookie. She squealed and hugged him tightly before running off.
“You spoil her,” Laura said, making him jump.
“She’s my only hope in marrying into the family,” Stiles winked.
Laura pushed him with her shoulder before giving him a hug. “Can’t believe all of my brothers are eighteen. That makes me feel so old.”
Stiles always felt giddy when she called him her brother. Laura didn’t like many people but somehow Stiles made the list of the people she did like. He would never take that for granted.
“You are ancient. Don’t know how you make it around without your cane grandma.”
“Oh Stiles, I hadn’t realized,” Laura said, pressing her palm to her chest.
“Realized what?”
“That you had a death wish,” she said before putting him into a headlock.
Scott started laughing rambunctiously as a war cry sounded from their left. “I’ll save you Stiles!”
Cora jumped onto Laura’s back and made them all tumble to the ground. He got an elbow into his neck and somebody’s hair in his mouth before Peter called out, “Hey you lot. Wait to kill the birthday boy until after dinner.”
Cora giggled as Laura helped Stiles back to his feet. Laura went to help Eric and Peter bring in the food as Stiles and Cora made their way back inside. Scott was nowhere to be seen. So Stiles sat down in his usual spot. Cora taking the seat on his left.
When Scott entered the kitchen he looked annoyed. Derek followed soon after, also looking annoyed. But that wasn’t all. Derek looked awful. The dark circles underneath his eyes looked swollen. His hair was a mess. Stiles had never seen his hair anything but immaculate, even the mornings after spending the night. He looked like he was going to be sick as he looked at the food on the dinner table.
What happened to him? Why did he look like that? Stiles couldn’t help his heart from clenching. No matter what happened between them, Stiles didn’t want to see Derek hurting.
Derek glanced up at him and Stiles realized he was staring so he looked away. Food got passed around and Stiles was almost able to forget that Derek was even there, until the conversation suddenly turned to him.
“Scott said you were back at school today. I’m glad you are feeling better. We were all worried about you,” Eric smiled.
Stiles glanced quickly at Derek before turning back to Eric. “Thanks.”
“I can’t believe someone would do such a thing,” Talia said.
“He’s lucky I wasn’t there. I would have ripped his throat out. With my teeth!” Laura lurched toward Cora, showing her sharp teeth. Cora shot back with a playful growl.
“Well Derek did a good job on his own I heard. Taken on four alphas at once,” Peter grinned.
“He did?” Stiles said.
“Yeah, didn't you see? A few of the alphas near you went into a frenzy from your scent and Derek roared until they all submitted,” Peter said, punching at Derek’s shoulder, who wouldn’t look up from his plate.
“Not all of them. He had to fight off that shithead, Matt,” Laura’s grinned.
“Derek kicked his ass!” Cora yelped.
“Cora,” Talia admonished.
Cora gave her a mischievous smile but apologized.
While the rest of them talked about how much Matt deserved the beating, Stiles stared at Derek. He took on three alphas for him? Not only that, but he challenged Matt? Because while the other alphas had merely been in a frenzy, (that explains why Danny had profusely apologized to him that morning before running away) Matt had stated his intentions to claim Stiles. There was no way Derek should’ve been able to take Stiles away unless he challenged Matt with his own intentions.
His heart started beating faster. When Stiles had given his police report he didn’t mention that Matt had made his intentions to claim him. He knew there could be legal trouble if he said anything because it could be argued in court that Matt did nothing wrong. Matt had done all the right things. He sent Stiles a Mating application, courted him like the rest of the alphas, and could’ve said that Stiles never formally rejected him. Stiles had wondered why Matt didn't do that, but now it made sense.
“Hey are you alright?” Scott said, making Stiles jump.
Stiles glanced up and saw they were all staring at him. Stupid werewolves with their crazy hearing.
“Yeah, fine,” his voice was pitched too high. He knew they knew he was lying.
Derek suddenly stood from his chair. “I am…” he didn’t say anything else as he left the kitchen.
That was practically a confession from him. His breathing was becoming shallow.
“Stiles—“
“I’m fine. Just going to get some air,” he said, standing up and rushing after Derek.
Stiles found him outside at the edge of the woods. “Derek, wait.”
Derek stopped walking but didn’t turn around. Stiles had to walk in front of him, but Derek still wouldn’t look at him.
“You challenged Matt that day,” he stated.
Derek shrugged.
“Why would you do that?”
Derek shrugged.
Stiles felt something snap. “No. Don’t do that! You have to use your words.”
Derek glared down at him. “What do you want me to say, Stiles?”
“The truth. Did you challenge Matt?”
“Yes. Alright? I challenged him,” Derek growled. “And I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“Then why did you leave? Why didn’t you stay?” Stiles said, his face began to heat up with anger and confusion.
“Because you don’t want me!” Derek’s eyes glowed red.
“I told you to stay! I told you I loved you!”
“No you didn’t!” Derek growled.
Stiles took a step back like Derek had hit him. “I may have been in heat but I remembered what I said.”
“That’s just it, Stiles. You were in heat. You have no idea what you were saying.”
“My heat doesn’t make me stupid. I still had my head when I told you that.”
“You were gone before we made it to your house.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Do you even remember what you kept calling me?” Derek asked, an unreadable expression on his face. “ Alpha .”
“No—No I didn’t,” he would have remembered that.
“Don’t be mad at me, Alpha. I’ll do anything you want, Alpha. Let me suck your—“
“Stop.” Stiles felt shaky. The tingle in his fingers was starting to crawl up his arms. “So what if I called you alpha?”
“You don’t want an alpha. You don’t want me. I wasn’t about to force myself on you. Like him .”
“But you wouldn’t have! I gave you full consent!”
“You can’t give consent while in heat. Didn’t you learn that in omega class?”
Stiles stopped to think for a moment. That actually made a lot of sense. For a moment when Matt had touched his neck, Stiles wanted nothing more than to accept him as his alpha. Even though he is completely repulsed by him. But he was able to resist him. Would he have been able to say no if it was Matt who took him home instead?
“Are we done?” Derek said, beginning to turn away.
Stiles grabbed Derek’s arm before he could leave. “No. We’re not.”
Derek looked down at Stiles' hand like he was going to rip it off him. It only made Stiles grip him harder.
“Why did you challenge Matt?”
Derek raised an eyebrow. “Did you want to go with Matt?”
“No. I would never want to go with him.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“You are an alpha that challenged another alpha over an omega.”
“So?”
“I know you are not this stupid.” Derek yanked his arm free and growled at him. “You took alpha classes the same way I had to take omega classes. When two alphas lay claim to the same omega, one of them can issue a challenge. Whoever submits loses any rights to claim the omega and if they try to, the other alpha has every right to kill them.”
Derek chose that moment to stay completely silent, but not without his signature scowl.
“The only way Matt would have let you take me away is if you intended to claim me. So you challenged him so you could have me.”
Derek snarled and pushed Stiles up against a tree. “You talk about yourself like you are property. No one has the right to claim you because of some stupid alpha/omega law.”
“I know that,” Stiles said, feeling himself turn red. “I’m just trying to understand. You challenged him so you could claim me, then took me home and walked away? How did you do that?”
“I told you I wasn’t going to force myself on you,” Derek said, pulling away from him.
“But that implies that you would with consent.” Derek’s silence said more than if he had used his words. “Holy shit!”
Derek turned away and began stalking off. Like hell he was going to let Derek go though.
“Derek, would you talk to me instead of running away!”
“What do you want from me?” Derek sighed and rubbed his hand across his head. “You don’t want to be with me and I get it. All we ever do is fight. It was hard to come to terms with my own feelings let alone hope that you may have them too. I will get over it. I promise. I just couldn’t let him take you. Not when you smelled so terrified. Not when you said you would rather spend your heat alone than be with any alpha. I couldn’t let him take you.”
“When did I ever say I didn’t want to be with you?”
“I heard you with Scott. You told him how you were over being courted by every alpha at school. Then you said you didn’t want an alpha. That you didn’t want me.” Stiles had never seen Derek look so defeated.
“Oh. Oh!” Stiles couldn’t believe how stupid they were. “What else did I say?”
“I didn’t exactly stick around to hear why being with me was worse than going through your heat alone,” Derek rolled his eyes.
“You are such an idiot!” Stiles said pushing Derek none too lightly. He can take it. Freakin’ werewolves.
Derek’s eyes flashed. “Don’t push me.”
“I’m surprised you saw that! It’s not like you notice anything else around you,” Stiles glared at him. “I literally asked you to stay with me. Told you I loved you and you still think I don’t want you?”
“You said all that in the middle of your heat. You would say anything to—“
“Get into your pants? Wow. Tell me how you really think about me.” Stiles clenched his fists tightly by his side.
“It’s not your fault. Your hormones—“
“You can’t tell me what my hormones do to me. I know what they do to me,” Stiles cutting him off, stepping into Derek’s space. “You said I was past the point of no return before we got to my place. What about at the school? Can you argue that I was of sound mind?”
“Yeah? So?”
“So, do you think, me, an omega going into their first heat, would agree to go with an alpha who I didn’t completely trust? Knowing the consequences of it could lead to me losing my virginity?” Derek stared at him blankly. “That’s right. I gave my consent the moment I agreed for you to take me home. And it wasn’t my heat talking when I said I loved you because I already did before any of this ever happened.”
Derek was suddenly grabbing his face and slotting his lips over his. It was much different than the dirty kiss they shared in his bedroom. This was softer. Sweeter. Derek’s lips were like a gentle caress. Stiles slipped his tongue out and glided over Derek’s lip, asking for permission. Derek opened his mouth without a second thought and Stiles let out a little noise in happiness.
They were exploring each other’s mouths, when Derek pulled away, groaning and not in the sexy way.
“What’s wrong?” Did Derek regret kissing him? Was he going to walk away again? Was this just a game to him?
“Hey, stop whatever you're thinking right now,” Derek said, looking sternly into his eyes. “It’s not you. Laura just came out to look for us and is now shouting throughout the house, “Called it! They’re making out. John, you owe me $20!”
Stiles burst out laughing as Derek smiled at him.