Second installment in my ficlet per gif series from this amazing gifset ! Also on AO3!
“No, you had a
choice. You just made the wrong one.” The disappointment in Dean’s face
will break him, he’s sure of it. Whatever happens to him when all of this is
done, Cas will be ruined by the pain he has caused Dean, but he can’t change
that.“You don’t
understand. It’s complicated.” I never wanted him involved in this. He
should never have become involved. If I could have just saved Sam properly,
they wouldn’t be here right now.“No, actually,
it’s not, and you know that. Why else would you keep this whole thing a secret,
huh, unless you knew it was wrong? When crap like this comes around, we deal
with it… Like we always have. What we don’t do is we don’t go out and make another
deal with the Devil!”That’s where Castiel
snaps. Dean has no right. He may be the Righteous Man, but the ground he stands
upon is far from holy.“How dare
you?” He roars. Dean takes a step back from the indignant fury suddenly
written in the lines of his face. “We make
deals with the Devil all the time. Your father made a deal to save you. You
made a deal to save your brother and got the apocalypse running. Your brother
literally made bed with a demon.“He watches Dean’s
face tighten as he hurls indictment after indictment upon him. They are not
above Castiel. Their choices are no holier.“If you want to
be angry at me because I kept a secret or because I damaged your brother, then
fine. I am guilty of those crimes. But you do not get to play jury for a crime
you have also committed. I did this to protect you, Dean. You were free and you
were safe and I chose the lesser of two evils in order to keep you that
way.”Dean stares back at
him with a stricken face, his green eyes illuminated by the angry red holy
fire. Castiel doesn’t know what he expects from the eldest Winchester in the
face of these truths. He has never admitted fault easily, despite the intensity
of his self-loathing. Tears are beginning to swell in the corners of his eyes
and Castiel can’t keep pace with his ever-evolving emotions.“But why
though, Cas? Why was letting me have that life so important to you?” His
voice is pitching higher and Castiel hears the desperation in it, sees the pain
in his face, but he doesn’t know what Dean wants him to say.“You had Lisa
and a family, you were safe, and you were happy. I couldn’t-” Castiel
falters, but Bobby and Sam have ceased to exist and all he sees are Dean’s
eyes, begging him to explain. “If I couldn’t give you those things, at
least someone else could. I did everything that I did so that I could save this
world. For everyone on it, yes, but for you.”“Cas, the price
is too steep.” A broken chuckle bursts out of the Winchester’s chest and
the sound grates at Castiel’s nerves. The angel dreads what he will say next
and it makes his insides cold in a way he rarely feels. “I’m not worth that."Rage surges up
against the dread and he steps as close to the holy fire as he can bear. He
thinks it would be easier to cross than the schism growing between himself and
Dean. "To me, you’re worth everything."Dean freezes in his
spot, staring wide eyed and afraid in the face of Castiel’s confession. They
meet one another’s gaze unwaveringly, unbothered by the heat of the flame or
the distance between them. So much distance and yet Castiel thinks this is the
closest they will ever be again. Demons roar in the distance, and Castiel knows
time is short."You need to
go!” He shouts over the storm descending on the cabin.“We can fix
this, Cas.” Dean pleads. Something indefinable rubs the edges of his voice
raw. It’s some combination of devotion and fury he’s never heard before. He
thinks that if he could give the right answer that Dean would take him back,
perhaps gradually grow to trust him again. “Don’t do this to me."It’s barely a
whisper, but it thunders in his ears as if Dean had prayed it. He’s not doing
this to Dean, though. He’s doing it for himself. Someday, Dean may understand
that, or he may not, but he’s worth the sacrifice."It’s not
broken.”It may not be, but
when Dean looks back at Castiel one last time, he is.Check that word of the day, @charmedbycastiel 😉
Part [i]
Tag: angst
In another life….
In another life Stiles rolled over and the bed was still warm from where Derek had been sleeping just minutes before. The house smells like coffee and he can hear Derek talking to the dog while he makes breakfast.
In another life Derek throws his head back in a laugh when Officer Stiles Stilinski accidentally set his fire alarm off one night while making popcorn and offers to teach him some fire safety tips when he’s off duty.
In another life two grad students bond over their TA positions and how much extra work they have. Stiles ends up bringing Derek a coffee the next morning and the rest is history.
In another life Stiles falls for the tattooed barista. It turns out he’s a writer and the tattoos are for his family that died. It turns out they both found each other when they needed someone the most.
In another life professional baseball player Derek Hale ends up falling for a up and coming ESPN reporter. When he retires 15 years later he’s happily married to him and they cohost a new show for the network.
In another life.
In another life they’re happy. In another life Derek stayed. In another life there are no werewolves and no dead family members.
In another life Derek wakes to the sound of laughter and tiny feet.
In another life Stiles catches a serial killer and goes home to his bearded husband making him dinner.
In another life.
In another life.
But not in this life… at least not yet.
It’s the smoke Derek can’t tear his eyes from. He knows that his family is dead and gone and he’s transfixed, watching smoke curl and stretch lazy limbs up into the starry night sky. He thinks about the powdery black ash his family has been reduced to, traveling with it. Souls and hearts and minds and skin, his family, all drifting up in hazy clouds to the heavens. He wonders if they’ll kiss the moon as they pass it by.
Derek reaches out a shaking hand to where Laura is at his side. But his fingers grip nothing but empty air. His eyes track her, huddled on the ground, limbs twitching. He can hear every sob and ragged breath that pours from her mouth. He can see the way her eyes are flashing red…like his mother’s did…like his mother’s had, and knows she’s fighting this new power that’s running toxic through her veins.
She’s my Alpha now, Derek thinks numbly and feels bile slip up his throat at the thought. Because Laura isn’t supposed to be the alpha yet…not for so many more birthdays and holidays and summers and winters and years and years. Not now. It’s not supposed to be now.
Derek wants to comfort her, but can sense that her control is a thread, so ready to snap. She’s fighting, fangs and claws versus tooth and nails, to remain human.
He’s about to move towards her anyways, try to soothe the beast that’s waiting to uncoil like a spring from her flesh. That’s when he smells it and he is frozen. He is a wolf but he feels like a deer in the headlights because he recognizes that scent. Sharp and flowery…a scent he had wanted to wrap himself inside of, to soak in it and let it permeate every pore. The perfume that graced her bare skin and begged to be licked off by his tongue. And he’d done just that and he loved that scent and the woman who wore it but it shouldn’t be here. She didn’t…she didn’t know where he lived and he feels something inside of him crumble like the charred house in front of him.
Because he understands. Everything linking together like a chain. His family had been trapped in the basement and her last name was Argent and Argent meant silver, it meant enemy. It meant hunter. And she had fooled him with lush lips and hot hands up his shirt.
Before he knew it, he was running through the forest away from it all. Ghosts were nipping at his heels, pushing him and making him stumble over roots and branches with icy fingers. And no, no, no, everyone was dead and it was his fault. His fault. Derek collapses and buries his face in his hand. He lets out a howl. Or a scream. He doesn’t know, just knows that the ghosts are clamping hands over his mouth and his mother says “how could you do this” and his father is snarling in his ear. And his brothers and sisters, his little cousins, they rain their silent tears down upon him.
“I killed you. I killed you all. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Derek gasps. But the words just fall deaf to the forest floor and he is alone with nothing but the smell of smoke and death.
Raised by Wolves and Other Beasts
“Well, then, what about that guy in IT with the stubble and those big, muscle-y arms? You know, what’s his name?”
Stiles does know, even without a name, exactly who she’s talking about. The guy’s admittedly hot as hell, but he’s also the fifth person in the office Mackenzie’s tried to set Stiles up with. She’s nothing if not persistent.
“Eh, not interested,” he tells her.
“You can’t be serious,” she says with a disapproving frown. “Wait, are you worried if he’s cool with the whole, you know, trans thing? Because I heard…”
“Oh my God, not everything is about that,” Stiles interrupts, pulling a face. The happy hour Mackenzie had thrown for his work anniversary seemed as good a time to disclose as ever, but every once in awhile he remembers why he used to keep quiet about his history, visibility be damned. “I’m just not looking for a relationship. Too young to be tied down, you know?”
Mackenzie groans. “You’re already what, twenty seven?”
“Twenty six,” Stiles corrects.
His coworker gives a long-suffering sigh. “Fine, ignore my help. Don’t you have spreadsheets or something you need to work on?”
“I think you mean that you have work to do,” Stiles says, spinning lazily in his office chair. Technically he does have some data to tidy up for a director review, but that isn’t until Thursday afternoon.
Mackenzie rolls her eyes, making a big show of leaning forward to focus on her screen. Stiles leaves her to fiddle with the design mocks, scooting back into his own desk space. He flips through the tabs on his worksheet, trying to remember what he’d been doing before the interruption. Analytics is interesting enough, he guesses, and it certainly pays the bills, but he’d envisioned this job involving significantly less Excel.
Then again, he supposes there’s plenty about his life that he’d envisioned differently.
He’s only just gotten his bearings when he’s interrupted again by a voice saying, “Stiles?”
He startles, a little guiltily, then turns to beam at his boss. “Yo, Anna! What’s up?” he says cheerily, thanking the stars he’d closed out of the Han Solo teaser trailer he’d been watching before Mackenzie started hassling him about his lack of a love life.
Anna looks uncharacteristically hesitant, and Stiles’ heart gives a syncopated stutter, anticipating something he can’t yet name.
“There’s, uh… Jason says there’s a man in the lobby? He’s asking to see you.”
The air punches out of Stiles’ lungs in a sharp huff. There’s no logical reason for the way the words hit him. From the little she’s said, the man could be anyone. But he knows, all the same. He knows it’s Derek.
Sterek Fic Recs: The Fake Boyfriend Edition
Are you ready for pining? Insane circumstances that cover up the RIDICULOUS feelings these two idiots have for each other? Buckle up babes.
Stiles Stilinski, Boyfriend Extrordinaire by MereLoup
“Beacon County Sheriff’s Department, this is deputy Mahealani speaking.”
“Oh thank god!”
“Stiles?”
“I, uh, I need some advice.”
“Advice?”
“Yeah. So, hypothetically, say you met your boyfriend’s mother and sister for the first time ever. Completely by accident. In the grocery store. And they convinced you to help them make a dinner to surprise aforementioned boyfriend when he got home after work. What would you do?”
Danny paused, and then, “Stiles, you don’t have a boyfriend.”
“That’s not the point! And I said hypothetically.”
“Stiles…what are you doing right now?”
This is so funny, and so sweet, and so ridiculous. But the tags say it all – this is crack taken seriously and its done really well. Deputy!Stiles, Professor!Derek – Talia and Laura Hale – kittens – what more could you want? Oh, kissing you say? Well you get that too!
Won’t Treat You Like You’re Typical by Zee (orphan_account)
“You think this is funny?” Derek says, turning his glare on Stiles’ stupid smirking face.
“I think it’s hilarious,” Stiles says, shrugging when Derek looks incredulous. “Dude, it’s not like it’s forever, we’ll just have a few sleepovers until the hunters see that all the werewolves in town are properly tamed by their human mates and move on. And then I’ll have an awesome who-I-did-over-Summer-vacation story when Fall Semester starts!”
I love this fic – experienced!Stiles with inexperienced!Derek. There’s some delicious miscommunication and pining – but it never crosses that line to become annoying and too frustrating. Instead its the absolutely believable idiot communication these two idiots would absolutely conduct with each other. Derek’s reticence to have sex without it meaning something is something I love tbh. I always think a guy with a past like he has would have this attitude, and would be acutely aware of the ways in which sex isn’t casual. There’s a happy ending, of course, and some gorgeous awkward but sexy smut 😉
Don We Now Our Gay Fake Boyfriends by @relenafanel
“What happened to your sweet Camaro?” Stiles asked.
“His sister borrowed it,” Erica said cheerfully. “Drove to Lake Tahoe for the holidays and left him here without transportation and fending for himself.”
This was… perfect, actually. Stiles needed a fake date and Derek needed a drive. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll drive you to and from the party and in return I get to tell Mrs. Gordon you’re my date.”
“Fine.” Derek nodded.
Yes! Stiles had a fake date to the Holiday Party!
Okay, so let me tell you a thing. This fic is hilarious – the set up is perfection, Stiles is just – such an arsehole but you will love him anyway. And Derek? His sincere lack of giving a shit is just a gift. Christmas themed goodness here – complete with ugly christmas jumpers, snow, and gifts. Do yourself a favour and read it, it’s got everything you want.
The Newlywed Game by Captain_Loki
“Stiles is (still) single when the pack’s getaway to the Caribbean comes by (oh misplaced optimism); lucky for him Derek is committed to being uncommitted and even after all these years is still powerless against Stiles’ unique forms of persuasion.
Cue a romantic getaway for two: sun, sand, and sarcasm abound…and the two roped into competing in the Resort’s version of the Newlywed game. Only it’s completely obvious it’s going to end in disaster. Probably homicide.
Most probably homicide.
Plot twist: It doesn’t.”
Okay so this is probably one of my favourite sterek fics, the characterisations are on point (Stiles and Derek are such assholes) and the premise is just hilarious. So many moments will make you snort with laughter, and then there’s the moments where you’ll feel your heart swell by about 3 sizes from the sweetness. It’’s a fantastic summery fic, which will make you want to feel the sea lapping at your toes and the sun on your face. It’s just such an entertaining read!
“You want me to kick his ass?“ Isaac asks, sounding probably a little too eager.
“No, I don’t want you to kick his ass,” Stiles says. “Look, he’s just being a dick. It’s nothing I can’t handle.“
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. Now go stalk Scott or something. Your sudden protective streak is giving me the creeps. Besides, I’ve had worse from you.“
–
Derek goes to pick Isaac up from school and doesn’t like what he hears, so he decides to do something about it.
This is short, sweet, and so so satisfying. Love me some protective Derek, and I’m pretty sure this little fake relationship isn’t going to stay fake for long…
Pig in a poke (a remix of Tuesdays) by @uswe
Stiles has issues with Fuckwit Dan; Derek’s approach to problem-solving is more than welcome.
This is an adorable little fic that you must read if you liked ‘Tuesdays’ above – the whole thing from Stiles’ POV with added sweetness at the end 🙂
My World is Filled With Cheer and You by @bleep0bleep
“It was a last minute decision. Single parents with children draw attention to themselves in this type of neighborhood, and this department didn’t have a big budget to relocate all the werewolf and werewolf sympathizers that were targeted on this list. We’ve combined a lot of our relocation assignments. It ended up working out that another family, Mr. Stilinski and his son, looked like a good fit for you guys, so you’ll be sharing a home with them for the time being.” Markowski grins at him. “Congratulations! You’re married!”
~
In which Derek and his daughter are displaced just in time for the holidays, matched up with Stiles and his young son in a government protection program.
You want to read this, you need to read this. Not only do we have Fake Dating trope, we also have both single dad!Derek AND single dad!Stiles, we have alive hales, aaaand we have both Hanukah AND Christmas celebrations – oh – and did I mention writer!Derek? This is a fabulous fic with everything you could hope for tbh, it’s got just the right amount of pining and miscommunication, flirting and making out.
Rather Be With You by @drunktuesdays
prompt from etben: GIVE ME SOME FAKE DATING / FAKE MARRIAGE / MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE SHENANIGANS, FOR LO: I HAVE A MIGHTY NEED!
This is just a fantastically hilarious fic, not super long, but full of sweet and funny moments – and some of the best interactions with restaurant staff ever. Seriously. “Lizards in Basements”. You will cackle, I promise.
we knew every line by magneticwave
What happens at the North American Lycanthropy and Leadership Symposium stays at the North American Lycanthropy and Leadership Symposium. // Or, Stiles is totally going to be the best fake boyfriend ever. According to Allison and Lydia, he and Scott rate 17/20 in believability and 19/20 in cuteness. They’ve got this shit locked down.
Okay so first of I just want to warn you that the fake dating in this is Stiles/Scott but there is no actual relationship or sexy times between them – sciles is a not for me so I assure you it’s all just epic friendship. What you do get is some hilarious interactions between Stiles and Scott, and with the rest of the back via text and reference (honestly, it’s so well done). AND you get Stiles being his hilarious self and reacting to meeting Derek for the first time – Derek in well tailored suits – yep, it goes exactly how you imagine it. So funny and sweet, and I’m sure you’re gonna enjoy it!
Fake It Till You Make It by @actualbird
“Oh my god, on the list of terrible things in your life, this can’t possibly be the worst.” Stiles says as he grabs Derek’s hand. He holds it awkwardly in his, aiming for tender and caring. He’s sure 98% it isn’t working. He’s holding Derek’s hand like it’s the knife Derek wants to stab him with. “So you’re going to buck up and smile your best I’m Dating Stiles Stilinski and I Like It smile or we get sexed by a lust demon! Your pick, Derek.”
–
The one where Stiles really didn’t plan on spending Valentine’s Day pretending to be Derek’s fake boyfriend so they could safely hunt down an incubus. Funny how life works sometimes.
We have Valentine’s Day, a succubus, a cupid, and Stiles and Derek being the most awkward of goobers. This is a really fun take on the incubus demon concept, and the ending is just awesome. Sweet, sweet, sweet.
Old Traditions, Werewolf Style by @insanewordcount
Stiles does not work his Omega ass off to attract frat boy Alphas. Absolutely not. He’s at college to get his degree. If he’s crushing on an Alpha who never crosses the lines of propriety, well, no one needs to know, right?
Okay so this have ABO dynamics, but nothing nsfw, with Alpha werewolf Derek being adorable and traditional and protective. Super sweet, super cute.
When Derek receives an invitation to what should have been his ten year class reunion, he panics a little. He’s barely got his life together and the invitation specifies a plus one. Thankfully, Stiles is there to help him out.
Ugh this fic is just gorgeous okay? Derek and Stiles are both written so well, and the way that Stiles supports and protects Derek all the way through – it’s just incredibly heartwarming and totally romantic. I loved this fic a lot – if you want to be completely swept away in 3000 words – you need to go for it.
Sending Out an S.O.S by @fauvistfly
Derek decides he might be ready to start dating again, so the pack creates a signal that Derek can use if he ever needs saving from an uncomfortable situation. The signal somehow comes to mean that Stiles will pretend to be Derek’s boyfriend. Eventually, Stiles saves Derek so many times that the lines begin to blur.
In which there are fake boyfriends, flirting, music festivals, a bit with a puppy, a cameo by Jack Falahee, and honest kissing.
This one is another favourite of mine, it’s a really fun play on the fake dating trope – and another one where Stiles (and the whole pack) are protective of Derek and save him from panicking when confronted with overly flirtatious people. I kind of have a thing for them all coddling him somewhat? I think it’s because he’s my precious little alpha baby and I want him to be looked after and loved. Which he is, in this, there’s even a farmer’s market. Check it out.
it’s free (and always will be) by @maichan808 @kellifer-k
Stiles starts looking around, like there’s someone who’ll rescue him from this painfully awkward situation and Derek can’t blame him. All he can think is this is some kind of elaborate prank Laura is playing on him after she’d found his pile of Fangboy back copies last month.
Or, the one where Derek has to marry a human to save Clawbook and it turns out to be Stiles. He’s completely doomed.
Oh man, this is a nice juicy fic. Perfectly paced, with gorgeous moments and secrets and pining and the slow-build never veers into the tedious. The characterisation is spot on, the way the Hale and McCall pack are shown to interact is just so lovely. This is another of my faves, it’s perfect if you want something a little longer, and the art is the perfect accompaniment. Also note – the pics of Stiles that really stuck in Derek’s mind aren’t the sexy ones…its the big jumper and the pack of humans and weres that really caught his imagination. Derek you big domestic softy, don’t think we don’t see you.
Mr McStubbly Saves the Day by Janeyyy
Stiles is on an awkward date, and asks a handsome stranger to help him out.
Short, sweet and featuring Derek being the best at playing along on the spur of the moment.
Electricity in the Contact by @hungrylikethewolfie
In which Derek has been invited to the Greater Pacific Northwest Alpha Symposium (that’s not what it’s called, Stiles, stop saying that), and showing up unattached would mean an arranged marriage. When the rest of the pack objects, he agrees to let Stiles come along to pose as his mate. Derek is reasonably sure that he’s not going to make it out of this weekend alive.
OKAY so this one is the longest of the bunch, and is one of my fave fics ever so…please just read it. There’s pining, and alpha werewolf conventions, and networking, and forced bed sharing (that is a thing for me okay) and scenting, and safe words. Just. It has everything I want in a fic and I think you’ll all love it okay? I am stopping myself here otherwise I’ll write too many words about how good it is. Just. Do. It (Insert Shia LaBeouf impression here)
That’s all for now my lovelies – I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I have! Don’t forget my ask is always open to suggestions or recs!
“He loves someone else.”
delfeur: or your otp thing: who dies and who destroys a fucking city in grief
@void-sterek : Derek dies. And Stiles destroys not only a fucking city in grief but he rips apart time and space in order to find a way to bring Derek back ‘cus he can’t fucking live without Derek.
@sterektrashbag : Exact-fucking-ly
once and again [also on ao3]
The problem with the multiverse, is that there are infinite possibilities. Stiles is tired. He’s been at this for a long, long time. It took years to master the power to traverse universes, and Stiles is putting a lot of faith in that he’ll find Derek again– a year of his life per shot, as is.
And Stiles does find Derek. His first universe travel attempt; he finds Derek as a history professor at UC Berkeley who listens to Stiles’ story with an understanding nod. He hugs Stiles back, laughs when Stiles makes fun of the elbow patches on his suit jacket.
“So you’ll come back with me? I love you. I miss you, so much,” Stiles says.
“I love you too, Stiles. Sorry, I–” and Derek’s cell phone is ringing. He turns the screen towards Stiles with a sheepish smile, and Stiles looks at his own face on the caller ID. “I have to get home– you– er, my Stiles just finished making dinner, I’m pretty sure. I hope you find your Derek.”
The next universe Derek works in a coffeeshop, and mistakes Stiles for– you guessed it– Stiles. Apparently he’s been working up the courage to ask Stiles out, and Stiles’ heart flutters and he remembers everything he’s ever loved about Derek. And then his heart breaks again, but he can’t– he can’t do this tohimself. He leaves.
In one universe, Derek’s a movie star, happily wedded to– Stiles. They were celebrating their fifth anniversary when Stiles showed up in a blaze of crackling light, and well– he stayed for a few hours in that universe at their enthusiastic invitation, until he started to feel like a third wheel.
And so it goes. Everytime Stiles breaks through another wall to go to a new universe, it costs him another year of his life. It’s the price of the magic– he doesn’t think the original creator of the spell expected anyone to use it more than once.
Sometimes the universe has magic, sometimes it doesn’t, sometimes Derek is a werewolf and sometimes he isn’t; but in every universe that he finds a Derek, there’s also a Stiles. Either they’re already together or about to be together and sometimes Stiles does a bit of matchmaking and helps it along.
Stiles forgets how long he’s been doing this; his reflection looks the same but he feels centuries older. This is the last time, he thinks to himself.
Derek’s heart thrummed in his chest in blind panic as he wrenched at the locked door. It groaned upon its hinges, and when it finally gave way he left distinct fingerprints in the rusted metal. The wolf in him was howling in fury as he scanned the cavernous room.
There.
He followed the heavy iron-oxide smell to the far left side of the building, moving past enormous concrete pillars that blocked his view. He couldn’t hear anything, no breathing, no movement, no heartbeat at all. Maybe that was just because Derek’s own pulse was drumming far too loud in his sensitive ears, his breathing a rapid thunder crash in his chest, blocking out all others.
A howl rose from outside, followed by an answering call to the right; Scott and Isaac had arrived.“Stiles!” Derek called. He rounded a pillar, the smell becoming more and more powerful, and god, how much blood must there be for that to be so strong-Oh, God.
Derek ears rang in the silence. He froze in his tracks as his world crumbled around his head.
Again.
Stiles looked tiny. Curled against the wall, a dark stain was spreading from his body like an unreal shadow. His eyes were closed, his lips slightly parted in a slack and silent plea. One arm sat limp in his lap, coated in the slick blood from his wounds, and the other curled around the edge of his phone.
Stiles had died alone.
—
OTP Challenge: Sterek
The above passage is from my fic Silver Only Shines in the Moonlight , a vampire AU I wrote a few years ago. Check it out! I’ve always been impressed with this fandom’s levels of consistent quality in fanworks, it’s always been so inspiring to me.
Sterek +“today was the first family gathering i’ve been to since we broke up and my little cousin that absolutely adored you asked where you were and i had to lock myself in the bathroom and sit in the tub for a half an hour and look through a folder on my phone of pictures i took of you to feel okay again¨ AU
soooooooo, here it is! i kinda changed the prompt a bit, but i hope it’s to your liking still, @coyoteraeken!
All and any mistakes are mine, because nobody proofread that thing, sorry.
It’s been a while since Derek’s
been to any Pack gatherings. He missed it; his mother, his dad, his sisters,
his brothers. Everyone. But he couldn’t bear to be around them, not when they asked questions. He pondered about it,
how weird it would be. When they looked into his eyes and just knew. Derek didn’t want them to know.“So,
Derek, how have you been?” It was his aunt. She flew in from New York for the special occasion. Little did she know
there was nothing special to celebrate, not anymore. He hadn’t had the balls to
bear it, to tell her. Derek stayed silent. She had been, even if it had been
years, an alpha. Aunt Diana was perfect. He didn’t want to disappoint her, to
be honest.“Uh,
good,” Derek replied sheepishly. His face went red, he just knew, even without
looking into a mirror.“Just
good?” Diana inquired, raising one of
her perfectly shaped eyebrows. She reminded Derek eerily of someone he had once
known. (He had stopped replying to her texts as soon as it was over, even though she wasn’t the one who
Derek had a relationship with.) “I thought, you know, that finally getting
mated – officially, I might add –
would put you in a better mood, dear.”
shealwaysreads 