Chapter Text
Stiles took to wolf-hood like he was born to. Maybe he was, maybe Stiles was always meant to be Peter’s wolf mate. Stiles had been more excited about the lack of pain then the advanced senses. He had control from the moment he woke up. He told Peter it was because Peter had continually reassured him and prepared him for what it would be like. Within two days, Peter felt confident in bringing Stiles home from the hospital.
Stiles’ head whipped back and forth as he watched Peter drive toward his – well, their – house. He hadn’t spent a lot of time in the preserve since he’d been a kid running and playing in the woods with Scott. Now he lived in the preserve on the largest packlands in the state.
Peter was proud to show Stiles his house, unable to keep his wolf from puffing up and preening. The three story was large and intimidating, if you weren’t pack. The pack felt like it was a fortress, they were safe here, protected, free.
Stiles was staring at the giant house. Not even a house, really. It was a mansion and Stiles gawped at it. It was a mix of stone and wood but covered in huge windows. He could immediately see the attraction for the wolves. But this was where he was going to be living?
“What the hell is that?” Stiles demanded, pointing at the house.
Peter frowned. Not exactly the reaction he’d been anticipating. “It’s our home,” he said, still enjoying the fact he got to say ‘our’.
“I see that. Why the hell didn’t you tell me we were living in a mansion. When you told me you wanted to move some things around for me, I was thinking it would be, you know, a normal sized house, make room in the closet for plaid shirts and ironic t-shirts. Not this alpha behemoth house,” Stiles said, going slightly pale.
Peter looked past the words to the insecurity shining from his mate’s eyes. “Love, what is this really about?”
“I don’t know how to do this,” Stiles said, pointing at the house. “I’m not fancy guy. I don’t know how to be all proper and shit,” Stiles said a tear trickling down his cheek.
“Tell me, Stiles, what has you so worried, love?”
“I can never do anything for you that could equal everything you’ve done for me. I can’t even improve this mighty bastard,” he motioned at the house again. “It’s already fucking perfect. If I’d been given a million houses, I’d have picked this one, you psychic bastard. This house is everything. You are everything I’ve ever wanted and more. I just feel so overwhelmed and so fucking inadequate. Here you are presenting your beautiful house to me, as well as calling it ours, you possessive fuck, don’t think I didn’t catch that. Anyway, here, have the perfect mate and the perfect house and the perfect car and the perfect mate, shut up, I’m not repeating myself. I have nothing for you. I come to you already in debt in a manner of speaking. I’m not actually, side note, I figured out early on that I better hide my dad’s insurance money. Theo would have taken it. But I come to you with nothing. I just wish I had something to give back to you,” Stiles ended in a hurt whisper. He looked at the house and sighed. It really was fucking perfect. It was a medium gray with stone and white siding, black window shutters, with a lovely red door on a lovely white huge porch that wrapped around the fucking perfect house.
“Do you call yourself my mate?” Peter asked softly. “Are you mine? Are we a couple?”
“Of course I am, I’m yours and you’re mine. Always, Peter,” Stiles assured him.
He smiled at his young mate. “Then you’ve given me everything I could ever want. There is nothing more I could ever want. You are the one thing I have lacked my entire life. I’ve always felt lacking somehow, like I’ve always felt out of the loop because almost everyone I know has found their mate. Here I am almost in my mid-thirties and I’ve been alone. I’m the alpha, I’m the one in charge, I have the packhouse. I have everything except my Someone to share it with. I’ve been alone for so long. Now in the course of days, I not only have my mate, but I also get to bring him to the home I built for him,” Peter said, gesturing to the house. “Every decision made in that house, yes, was made to what looks good, but each item was given thought, Stiles. Each item was given the narrowed eyes and I had to see whether it was worthy of you or not. So it took me twice as long to build it, which got me a lot of shit. But you are my whipped topping on the taste of my life. There is nothing more I need now that I have you. I have pack, I have material things, I have my mate, the best and most important of all. Because if you asked me to, I would give up everything and run away with you,” Peter vowed.
“I would never ask you to do that,” Stiles said, horrified at the implications and the thought of hurting his mate that much.
“Exactly,” Peter said, his blue eyes shimmering with emotion. “That is why we’re mates. That is why you are giving me everything I need. You already put me and my needs ahead. It’s more than I could’ve ever hoped for. You are more than I hoped for. I could never imagine how perfect you would be,” Peter said, brushing Stiles hair back. He was so beautiful, no more bruises or marks, just his gorgeous self. Peter couldn’t wait to taste each and every one of his moles.
Stiles blushed at the heat in Peter’s eyes and turned back to the house. “Well, are you going to show me the inside of this perfect house?”
Peter beamed at him and leapt out of the car. He opened Stiles’ door and gave him a hand getting out of the car.
Stiles wouldn’t usually be grateful for the hand, he was more than capable. But he knew it meant something to Peter and it would also keep him from flailing around and possibly land on his face in front of his new pack.
“Now remember, you are my mate and I couldn’t be prouder. There are a bunch of nervous wolves inside who would love to meet you and make a good impression on you. You are the one to impress now,” Peter said giving him a wink.
Stiles gaped at him. “You’re freaking crazy! I’m nervous! What if they all hate me? Will I have to leave the pack? Because that doesn’t seem fair to the others to bring a stranger in and if they all hate me, they suffer. Peter, you gotta be honest with me. If somebody doesn’t like me or has a problem we can’t get past right away, you’ve gotta let me move out for a while.” Stiles saw the hurt on Peter’s face. “Just until we can get the problem worked out. I won’t be the person who walks into an established group and make them all uncomfortable in their own home. Not cool. Promise me?”
Peter smiled proudly and stroked his cheek. “I promise. And you know what?”
“What?” Stiles asked, closing his eyes for a minute, enjoying the bliss of Peter’s touch.
“I think you already have all their approval,” Peter said, pointing.
There was a group of people around his age piling out of the house, a giant banner held up. “Welcome Home Stiles!” and under that “Congratulations Peter and Stiles!”
Stiles saw that, saw the smiles, realized they’d heard that he would leave if need be and he was overcome. He sniffled hard and rubbed at his face. He finally managed a wobbly smile and a casted wave to the pack.
“They love you already,” Peter whispered in his ear, just for them.
“I can’t wait to love them all,” Stiles agreed. “I can do that well. I may not have anything else, but I’ve got a lot of love and loyalty in me and I can’t wait to share it,” he promised, meeting Peter’s lips as they kissed him with pure love.
Stiles took Peter’s hand and walked bravely to meet his new family. Derek was there and gave Stiles a warm hug. They’d already met in the hospital and poor Derek had to sit there as Stiles cried out his gratitude. He’d been red-faced, but there was pride in there too. Not to mention how insufferable he was with his uncle, teasing Peter about being the one who introduced him to his mate. Peter had to promise a wax job for his nephew’s new car in exchange for shutting up about it.
Derek and his mate, Paige were there. Cora and her mate, Lydia, who Stiles was shocked to see. He’d gone to high school with Lydia Martin and had never been acknowledged by her and never would have figured he would see her again, he wasn’t terribly excited for their interactions, but he would give everyone a fair shot.
There was Kira and Isaac, Boyd and Erica, and the other singles, Jeff, a human, as well as twins Ethan and Aiden, also single. Although by the looks Ethan was giving Jeff, there may be some dates or at least something going on behind closed doors.
Of course, everyone was attractive. What the hell was that all about? All the men looked a minute away from ripping their shirts from their bodies and having an ab-off. Stiles wouldn’t mind being the judge, but he was feeling inadequate again. He kept trying to remind himself that these were wolves. They had the body naturally. Peter assured him that the more he ran and let his wolf out, the stronger he would be and he would gain muscle much faster than a human would.
Later that evening at their first pack dinner, Peter introduced Stiles officially as his mate. Lydia immediately demanded she be put in charge of arranging the details of their mating. Stiles shrugged. He would’ve thrown some chips and dip out and called it good. He was fine with Lydia arranging it. “I’m your wedding coordinator, Stiles, not the arranging person,” she said with a well-coordinated raise of her brow and purse of her lips.
“Okay then, Wedding Coordinator, I look shit in blue, so don’t put me in it,” Stiles said, winking at her.
“You’ll wear what Peter approves of and that is that,” Lydia said, raising a single brow. “He’s the one who has to look at you.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re actually insulting me in your own special Lydia way?” Stiles had to admit he was feeling a bit hurt and run over. “Peter and I are the ones getting mated. I do not look good in blue, I never wear the color. I will not wear it. Period,” Stiles said, looking at her directly. His tone wasn’t pissed or hurt, not even passive aggressive. It was a statement of fact and he wouldn’t let her change that. There was nothing she could do to change it.
Lydia had the gall to look at Peter as if he was going to jump in and correct Stiles. Peter lifted his brows, eyes narrowing. He was starting out this new life putting Stiles first, supporting him even in a disagreement. Especially when Stiles wasn’t the one at fault.
“Okay. No blue. I can work with that,” Lydia said giving Stiles a warmer smile.
Lydia Martin zero, Stiles Stilinski, almost Stiles Hale, one. See, Lydia, we’re out of high school and you can’t push me around or ignore me anymore. Not if you want to stay wedding coordinator. Cuz he was still down with chips and dip. He’ll even get the dip that comes in the little glass bowls. Peter might have a problem with that, but at least they’d be mated.
“Peter, on the other hand, now he would look good in navy blue. It would make his eyes like lasers,” Stiles said, looking at his mate with a sigh.
There were chuckles throughout the room. Most of them had been there and knew the adoration that was so quick to come after Connecting. But they’d also seen all the other couples find each other and put up with sticky gooey lovey dovey-ness everywhere. It was enough to make you nauseous.
Not Stiles, though, he was more than okay with gazing at his mate with googly eyes. It was fun, especially because most of the time, Peter was looking right back at him with the same expression. It was delicious.
Stiles started crashing early from where he was settled against Peter on the couch. It had been a long, stressful day and he was ready for bed. Peter had told him he might be tired the first day or two because of all the changes his body had been going through. Before he knew it, Peter scooped him up and carried him into their room, which was freaking awesome, if you asked him. There was a sixty-inch TV, a brand-new computer, a cell phone, several game systems and a wall filled with games and DVD’s and all sorts of music. There was a huge king size bed that was made up in shades of red. Because that color brings out your eyes, Peter whispered to him as he kissed him as they cuddled under the blankets.
The next several weeks were as challenging as they were wondrous. There was no stopping the pack from loving Stiles. He spent time with each of them and with couples and friends, every grouping, Stiles got to know. By the end of his first week, he’d memorized nearly every fact about the members of the pack and had shocked each by being able to converse with them about their work or college courses or dreams and hopes for the future. He had already given out advice too, to Ethan for asking out Jeff without his brother trying to make it into a joke as Aiden was likely to do.
He thrived off the love and camaraderie of his pack. His favorite part was the cuddles. Stiles had always been tactile and the constant scenting and cuddling was a dream come true. He made sure to touch everyone at least twice a day, including the humans. There was no reason any of them should leave the house and not smell of pack. Not that all of them lived at the pack house. Peter told him that most of the couples had their own places within a mile of the main house. It kept the community close while giving them the space they needed to meet their needs as a couple or family.
Peter and Derek both told him at different times that he completed the pack. He brought the love to the Alpha pairing. Peter knew he loved his pack, but he wasn’t as demonstrative as Stiles was. From hugs to scenting, Stiles made sure everyone knew they were loved. Like he’d told Peter, this was something Stiles could do well. So he did.
Two years later and Stiles Hale was still loving life as a werewolf, Alpha Mate, and beloved mate to Peter Hale.
Derek and Paige got married and got pregnant within that year. Derek and his murder brows, as Stiles called them, were perpetually happy. He was glowing when he said ‘I Do’ to his childhood sweetheart, but when he found out that the love of his life was carrying their precious child, Derek broke down. He became a happy man. He didn’t have that coldness to him anymore. Baby was due any day now and they had chosen to not find out the gender, since it didn’t matter and they’d be letting the child choose their gender. It was something they’d explained to the pack and Stiles made sure everyone was educated when it came to gender studies and raising children outside the traditional gender roles and norms. It wouldn’t be allowed in their house.
Stiles was the information man. Everyone came to him for odd things to important things. “Stiles, can you tell me how to get marinara out of white silk?” Lydia asked him.
“Stiles, can you tell me how often I should be feeling the baby kick? I’m 38 weeks along and I’m not feeling them as much,” Paige whispered to him after Derek had left for work. She knew her wolf would freak the fuck out if he thought there was any worry. Stiles looked up the information, called a doctor and two nurses and a midwife and sat down and explained to Paige all about her baby and where the little one was at in their development. Paige had had some health problems as a tween and was still mentally scarred over it, she hated doctors, hospitals and the like. They were preparing for a home birth with a midwife but she still felt so much fear over calling to ask even the simplest questions.
Stiles stepped in and for the last few weeks of her pregnancy, came to her everyday with new facts or fun things she could do to interact with her baby. He got her a little doppler monitor that she could use to listen to the baby whenever she wanted. Derek didn’t need that, he just put his werewolf ear up to her swollen stomach and grinned and murmured to the little pup. Derek was ecstatic.
Then the day came. Phoenix Jayme Hale was born on a Sunday morning, calm and serene in the pool. Little Nix as they all came to call the pup was beloved by everyone in the pack. It was almost like the entire pack had had a baby, not just Derek and Paige. Everyone took turns with diapers and helping Paige as she nursed Nix. Stiles knew he wasn’t meant for kids, as Peter had also confessed to him one night. It was tradition for the alpha to carry on the line, but he just knew it was for the best if he didn’t have kids. Stiles told him since they both felt that way, it was fine, no guilt to be had. Instead, they became the uncles that everyone loved to hate. They spoiled little Nix and took the toddler everywhere they wanted to go. Unc Peer and Unc Sti-Sti were the favorites in the pack.
Peter came home one day, his face pale and furious. Those of the pack that were there that day convened in the living room, smelling and sensing the fury inside their alpha through their pack bonds. Stiles was by his side, scenting him and trying to calm him down. Derek was called in and was there in minutes. Derek was Peter’s Right Hand. Cora was his Left Hand. Derek dealt with the assisting stuff, allies and treaties, listening to any pack complaints if they don’t feel comfortable going to Peter. It’d only happened a couple times, but the door was open. But Derek and Cora needed to be there and hurried to be there for whatever Peter might need for the pack. Cora, being the left hand, was the protector of the pack. She was talented at making sure threats to the pack disappeared before they could ever come to pass.
Stiles, as Alpha Mate, also heard any complaints, but they were always minimal things. “Jeff ate the last goddamn poptart again, Stiles. Something must be done!” Aiden shouted one time. Stiles pulled out his secret pop tart stash and told the pissed off wolf to have at it and so he did and all was well. Stiles kept restocking the secret stash and there were no more issues.
Stiles was proud of the pack for acting so fast this time in response to Peter’s distress, he knew it meant a lot to Peter as well. Then he saw where his angry mate was looking. Right at him. It couldn’t be anything he’d done. Since their mating ceremony (Stiles wore red, thank you Lydia), their relationship had only deepened and bloomed. They’d enjoyed very mutually satisfying blow jobs that morning so it couldn’t be that either.
What could Peter have to tell him or talk to him that would cause this much anger?
Oh cheezus. His breathing sped up as the old panic he’d lived with raced through him.
“Theo,” he whispered, his eyes big, before losing all color in his face. For a moment, he let the fear race through him before growling audibly, forcing all fear from his spirit. There was no fucking way he was going to be afraid of Theo. He was an Alpha Mate now, a werewolf who had been taught by the best there was. He’d trained with Cora and Peter, learning how to fight and defend himself and his pack. Aiden and Ethan had even merged several times so he could learn from them. That was a painful experience, but he was confident of his skills now. There was no reason to be afraid anymore. “Tell us everything you know,” he said, strong and sure.
Peter looked at him, pride in his blue eyes. “Theo is getting out early. There is overcrowding in the jails and they are letting the ‘less serious cases’,” Peter said with air quotes. “They’re letting them out. That’s it. The end. That fucker hurt and scarred and terrified my mate for almost a year and he only serves only two years in a fifteen-year sentence. It was attempted murder and they’re calling it less serious!” Peter roared.
“Mate, don’t worry,” came Stiles’ voice, sure and confident. “We’ll be fine. If Theo is stupid enough to come here, there is no way he’ll live to see his way back out.”
Peter turned to Stiles. “Mother moon, I love you so damn much,” he said, gripping Stiles and sticking his face in Stiles neck right over his mating bite.
Stiles pushed and shoved at his mate until Peter was sitting in their favorite chair. He crawled in Peter’s lap, ducking down just so, to where he could slide his head underneath Peter’s chin. Peter loved this position as he loved to surround his mate with his essence, his scent, his love. Peter would growl softly, deep in his chest almost a purr that made Stiles snuggle into him deeper. It was a comfort to them both.
“Has he been released yet?” Stiles asked.
“Tomorrow,” Peter said.
“Okay. I’m going to look up how to make protection wards and put those around the house. We’ll have the humans stay in their houses,” Stiles said, knowing each house not only had several escape routes, but each house had a panic room. After losing most of his family, Peter and Derek had been determined that no pack member would ever be hurt again. Stiles continued. “We have plans in place to take care of this pack and we will just implement those plans. There is nothing to fear,” Stiles told him.
Peter moaned softly, relief in his every expression. “Thank you, mate. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Stiles said and gave him a soft kiss.
After the plans were cemented, Peter tugged Stiles by the hand. “Now, come upstairs with me and let me show you how much your protectiveness to our pack turns me the hell on.”
“Lead the way, my mate,” Stiles said, eyes flashing gold at Peter.
Theo’s body was found a month later in the mountains of Oregon. There wasn’t much left to him, obviously having been attacked by a bear.
Or a pissed off alpha’s mate.