Derek sneered at the passing betas, his eyes following Scott’s nervous face as they stood in the middle of the council. This wasn’t right. None of it was right. He had tried to get McCall ready, tried explaining the customs and diplomacy but Scott either hadn’t cared enough to believe him or was too anxious to remember.
They needed a pack. A strong pack to help rid Beacon Hills of the Vampires that had invaded the territory. Both victims and members were doubling nearly every night and their own pack was too small to keep up. Most of the original members had left the state. Lydia to college, Kira to train her powers… Stiles had gone to join the FBI—not that he still counted as a beta. Stiles may have forgiven his best friend after the fallout with Theo but he had refused to join into the McCall pack after.
Really the only betas Scott had were Derek, Theo, Liam, Hayden and Deaton. Mason was available to help sometimes but he wasn’t bonded in and Malia also played the fence more often than not. Parish claimed he was an officer first and though always willing to help he couldn’t promise his loyalty to the group over his duty.
Scott was mostly a good alpha, all things considered and though he did fine in training his betas he was absolute, utter shit in this aspect of being the leader. He hadn’t shown the proper respect to the elders. Hadn’t introduced his second or emissary like he should have and when other alphas had stepped upto scent him he had ignored the obvious invitation to mark one another’s neck in favor of offering a handshake. It was a gesture of trust, one most wolves took as a contract of peace during these parleys and Scott had shunned them all. It was insulting and Derek watched in dismay as the possible alliances dissolved before they even began.
The meeting hadn’t even started! Packs being brought in and introduced and they were waiting on the last one. A pack from Vermont that was said to be the most feared on the East Coast. Apparently their previous alpha had been known as a sadistic, merciless, born wolf who ran his pack with an iron fist. It was said one of his betas had challenged him and won, taking his alpha spark and his remaining betas with little effort and though rumors had spread throughout their network no one had actually seen or met the new alpha. This would be the first time and Derek knew it was their literal, last chance at gaining a helping hand. He could only hope the new alphas disgust for vampires was stronger than any insult Scott handed out.
“Introducing the new Hale Pack of Burlington, now headed by Alpha Mi-Mix…Mie—”
“Don’t worry, it’s a heck of a name. No offense taken, everyone can call me Stiles.” Derek’s head whipped up to see the familiar lithe form striding forward, a pack of 16 betas trailing closely behind.
Hale? He thought numbly to himself as he took Stiles in.
He had filled out since last Derek saw him. Broader around the shoulders and arms though his waist was slimmer. The awkward, flailing limbs now settled calmly down at his side. Confidence and self assurance blanketing the air around him. It was his face though that stopped Derek short… 4 long, distinct claw marks marred his pale skin. The scar traveling from the top of the right side of his forehead, crossing over his eyebrow, his nose and ending down the left side of his throat.
“S-Stiles!?” Scott gasped out in surprise, ignoring how every other council member bowed their head in welcome and congratulations at the new alpha.
Stiles nodded politely at the council before coming to a stop in front of the McCall pack, his warm amber eyes flickering over familiar faces before they landed on Derek.
“Hey Sourwolf. Long time no see.”
“Stiles…” Derek moved on instinct, reaching out to grab him, to reassure himself that this really was Stiles when a dark growl erupted from the entourage.
“Get your hands off him!” One of the betas snarled, moving to step forward when Stiles flashed his red eyes, leveling her with a dark, dangerous look that had her reeling back.
“Eva!” Stiles hissed, his voice eerily soft but the warning was evident in the otherwise silent room. “When you speak to Talia Hale’s son you will do so with respect! In fact, any of my pack who addresses Derek will do so with the same regard you give me. Is that understood!?” The betas all bared their neck at the command and Stiles’ eyes waned back to their normal whisky color. “Apologize Eva. Now.”
“My apologies. Alpha Hale.” She murmured, chastised and Derek was aware of the council members watching the exchange in interest.
“I’m not an alpha.” He said, meeting Stiles’ gaze.
“You’ll always be my alpha. Spark or not.” Stiles replied nonchalantly, causing Derek’s breath to catch. “We got word that you were in a bit of trouble so we’re here to help.”
“You’re a human! You can’t be an alpha!” Scott cried out indignantly and Derek couldn’t stop the hot wave of embarrassment that settled over him at Scott’s words. It was one thing for Scott to miss the social cues but another entirely to outright argue an alphas position. Anyone else would have taken it as a challenge but Stiles smirked, looking at him for the first time since he entered the room.
“I can’t?” Stiles gasped in feigned disbelief. “Oh my god! Councilor Cree! Did you know this? You sent out an invitation to an imposter! My eyes must be a trick of the light!” There was a round of snickering before Stiles regarded Scott once more.
“You should freshen up on your lore Scotty. I challenged Alpha Beck and fought him in a fair fight. I killed him and took his spark. Wolf or not the title falls to me… And who says I’m human?”Scott seemed speechless at that and Stiles motioned to his left where a dark skinned woman with shimmering golden hair stepped forward. “I have no second but this is my Left Hand, Lexi. She’s at your service.” Stiles said to Derek. And then, he moved forward, neck bared in invitation and Derek didn’t hesitate to scent him, running his nose over the scarred skin before offering his throat in return.
Stiles mimicked the movement, a proper greeting before slinking back. “I’m sorry for trespassing on Hale land. I’d like to ask permission to go see my father once the meeting is over.”
“You’re always welcome here Stiles. Always.” And it’s wrong. So very wrong, because it’s Scott who Stiles should ask for permission. It’s Scott who Stiles should greet and McCall finally understood this too when he stepped between them. ”Derek isn’t an alpha!” Scott snarled and Lexi growled back in return, her golden eyes flashing in anger.
“I was about to say the same about you.” Stiles teased, holding a hand up to quiet his beta. It’s a return at the insult but Scott didn’t seem the least interested in acknowledging it. His disbelieving eyes roaming over the man’s face.
“Stiles! What happened? You don’t smell like a wolf!” Stiles eyes finally narrowed, the anger now clearly etched on his features when he glared steadily back.
“I’m not a Were Scott. I’m a spark. An alpha spark.”
“You came to help us?”
“I came to help Derek. My alliance is with him, he’s my alpha.”
“He’s not-”
“He is. Mine. I am a Hale. I’ve always been a Hale. I’ll always be a Hale! And if he can’t wear the alpha spark I’ll wear it for him. My loyalty is to the true guardian of Beacon Hills. Alpha, beta or omega, whatever he is I will follow him and my pack will follow me.”
There’s a chorus of growls, the betas snarled in agreement as Stiles turned his attention to the council. “The Hales of Burlington will offer our assistance. Consider the Vampires taken care of. My thanks to the council and our allies.” And then Stiles looked back at Derek, his lip titling up in a suggestive smirk. “So Big Bad, where do we start?”
