Chapter Text
The pain in his chest wasn’t from a bullet, or a tazer. Nor was it from the force of an enemy wanting to kill him, or capture him. It wasn’t even from some rare form of wolf’s bane. No the pain was something far worse for the man. It was the feeling of hopelessness. A feeling he was tiered of feeling. It was the only thing he had felt since that night. The mirror cracked into pieces and fell away from the wall like a broken puzzle that no one would ever solve. The reflection showed different angles of a half-shifted Derek. Ever since he had admitted his feelings anger had ceased to be his anchor. Now the new anchor was gone.
It was his fault. That is what he had told himself as he sat with the sheriff. He had been upset with himself over losing the trail of a grocery store robber. The anger only grew when he stopped in to the apartment he had started to visit more than his own house, Lydia had been there. The fight pursued and the result was an angry Derek leaving an upset Stiles alone. Now, now Stiles was missing. He had been for three days.
Derek spent the first day ignoring his very existence. The second day was spent searching for the human whose scent had somehow vanished. Finally the third day was spent searching the town and surrounding area with the police force. Yet there was no sign of the awkward teen. It was at the end of the third day Derek started to lose it on everyone. Erica had made the mistake of making a joke about Stiles finally getting out of town, Isaac made the mistake of asking Derek if he was okay, and Boyd made the mistake of not saying anything at all. Derek was on edge. He was angry. He was ready to snap. Ready to kill whatever had taken what was his.
Day four turned to five, and six. Slowly people started to lose hope, started to say he ran off. Day seven, eight, nine, fifteen, finally a month passed. The end result was an unstable Derek. Erica and Boyd had finally quit trying to deal with him. Instead they moved to their small apartment. They resided there to avoid Derek’s wrath. Isaac stuck around, the abuse Derek dished out was hardly abuse compared to his father’s actions. Derek was all he had left. It killed him to watch the Alpha slowly slipping away. He went out every day with Derek and searched. Each night he returned to the renovated house to face Derek’s anger.
It was day 47 of the search when Derek and Isaac found Stiles. Late December, near Christmas, yet so far away for the three. Derek Carried Stiles to the Hale house and fed him. No words were issued between the three. Derek and Isaac could smell it. They knew what had happened. Derek left the room as Stiles ate. The sounds of slamming dishes made their way to the living room where Stiles devoured the soup Isaac had warmed for him. Finally the silence was broken. “He has been a mess.” Isaac’s voice was low so only Stiles would hear.
“The last time we talked-“
“He has been out every day Stiles. He hardly sleeps anymore. He hardly stays in this form for more than an hour.” Isaac said moving from the chair he had chosen to sit next to Stiles. Tears had started to run down Stiles’ face and Isaac gave him an awkward hug. “Look I know he seemed made but it is Derek. He is always Mad about something”
“I know.” Stiles snapped forgetting Derek was in the next room. “I just need time to figure this out. Things are different now.” He said with a sigh setting the bowl aside and leaning back. “Everything in my tells me to kill him… to force you…” He trailed off and leaned back staring at the ceiling with his red glowing eyes as he gripped the edge of the couch tearing into it. “If I had known this is what was going to happen…” He shook his head and stood suddenly.
“Wait.” The voice came from the kitchen and was nearly a growl. Derek was then in the door frame to the living room his claws extended. “We are doing this now. One of us has to die. You feel that. You know we don’t have a choice.” He growled lowly. He glared at Isaac once and it seemed to be enough to signal he should leave as he had evacuated the room quickly leaving the two Alphas face to face. “Before we do this tell me how.” Derek said crossing his arms as he leaned on the door frame.
“You look horrid Der” Stiles said torn. Part of him still loved the Were’ before him. The other part wanted to rip out his throat and steal away that power which he held. “What? Just give me time. You know we can figure this out!” He exclaimed at the others statement. But he knew it was true. He didn’t know how. He just knew. “Look Der please.” Stiles pleaded lifting his hands and taking a step back. It went against everything his instincts screamed at him to do but fighting Derek, much less killing or being killed by him was not on his list of things to do.
“Stiles.” His voice was sharp and demanding. It held some power Stiles had never felt before. Even as an alpha he felt it. Derek stared him down his eyes still burning the angry red showing what he was. “Tell me.” The words were short and lifeless. Derek was trying to slowly sever every connection he had made with the boy. He was trying to make the fight to come easier. Stiles was no longer part of his pack. He was no longer a human. Now he was a threat.
“Okay” Stiles whispered moving towards Derek. “I just…” Another step closer to the other Alpha, “I need to know something first” He said as he got closer to Derek. Suddenly their lips were pressed together and like every other kiss they had shared it felt like their first. Stiles was the one to break it. He pulled away slowly and smiled. “It happened when I was leaving the bar…”