16: Triggers – Part 3

Life is a series of hardships and tests. Survival of the fittest. Without pain there is no gain or evolving happening. These were things Zepar had learned early on. This was what the Council's leader had told him too. They dedicated their lives to guide, to test, to protect. And the lone alpha had agreed to join their ranks because he shared these beliefs. That's why he's been working for the Council for years. That's why he had allowed himself to be bound to the Leader and her magic. It not only made him stronger, but it also protected him in ways most alphas weren't. It came handy during many of his missions to keep up the peace, to test other emissaries and their pack. To deal with rogue wolves. To eliminate those who posed a threat to the world.

Many didn't understand that and saw him and his employers as evil because they didn't take the time to educate themselves and see the bigger picture. Some were just ignorant. Drunk on power, wanting more. Zepar was a necessary "evil". To keep the balance when something threatened that. And now it was threatened, alright.

A real Spark. It's been decades since the last documented one. Zepar understood the danger they meant. Not just for themselves and the ones around them, but the world itself. Because how do you stop a force of nature when it gets uncontrolled? Many of the Sparks went mad with power, got consumed until they were nothing more than a vessel for the untamed fire within.

And this boy... young man was something else. The reports didn't lie. He's never felt anything like this before. But they were running out of time. The boy was running out of time...

So... it was time to move in. There's been enough hiding away, enough skirting around the alpha and his pack. Enough time literally fucking around with that willing 'wanna be pack' beta. Enough spying on the Spark. Enough testing the pack from the shadows. He had to pick up the pace. So he came out of hiding, an open challenge for the mates of Beacon Hills as he headed for their dwelling in the industrial district of the town.

It was time for them to show what they were made of...

Zepar knew the way. He has been monitoring the mates and knew exactly where they lived so it was no challenge to get to the industrial district of where the building was. He moved across the town in the early hours when there weren’t much people moving around yet and in no time he arrived to the building.

The alpha wolf in human form paced around the perimeter, clearly sensing the wards of the Spark which didn't let him get too close. Clever Spark... The wolf huffed then howled out his challenge, knowing that it was going to be heard even if the mates were asleep. And just as he expected, the alpha up there stirred, making Zepar pace more at the ground floor, red eyes focused on the entrance in anticipation.

Derek woke up in the morning completely healed, no red marks creeping along his arms and wrists, no strained muscles despite being folded in the same position for a very long time. No pain anywhere sadly so he wasn't able to enjoy feeling the 'violent' taking that had taken place yesterday. Except the smell, they were going to have to open up a window to air out the room. And as he moved, he knew they needed a shower and clean sheets too, because the inside of his thighs felt crusty and there was some leakage happening when he shifted. Stiles was still asleep next to him, and it was early, no kids in the house yet.

Something had woken him up though. At first he thought it was his full bladder so he sauntered to the bathroom to take care of business, mid-stream when he felt it, the reason why he had woken up. A werewolf close by, and getting closer. The energy was strong.

Finishing off fast, he washed his hands and rushed to the bedroom to hastily grab clothes, throwing Stiles' jeans at him to wake him up.

"Stiles! He's here, the alpha. Get dressed, move!" No time for underwear, which was unfortunate because there was going to be a wet spot in his pants. Good thing they were black this time. Stiles was still blinking so Derek took a mint out of the small box and threw that at his mate as well. "Eat a few, your breath stinks like cum and ass." There was no time to brush teeth or clean up, they were NOT going to be caught unaware.

Derek grabbed his shirt to pull on, stuffing his feet into his boots at the same time, deeming it fresh enough to wear, not that it even mattered at this point.

Compared to what they did last night and how happily Stiles drifted off with his mate wrapped around him, the awakening was less than ideal. Instead of lazy caressing and a cup of strong coffee, he was shaken awake by his mate throwing clothes at him. He groaned, not happy at all.

But once his mind processed the information that the elusive alpha was there woke him up enough to start getting out of bed. He took the mints, chewing on them with some disdain because yuck, he needed to brush his teeth and pee before that, but whatever, the immediate alert situation pushed back every bodily functions. So once he jumped into his jeans and sneakers and pulled a shirt over his torso, he was hurrying after Derek to take the elevator downstairs.

"God, I'm so not ready for this. That wolf could've chosen an afternoon for his big entrance..." Stiles grumbled, but he was more awake by then, the magic ready and swirling around them.

"Or an afternoon when I don't have a big entrance," Derek grumbled as well, leaning against the wall of the elevator in a mock relaxation because the muscles in his body were all tense. One alpha from the sound of it, it could be nothing, they were together and strong. It wasn't the first fight with alphas, it was however their first fight as a couple. Now that Parrish had accepted Derek as alpha though, he was stronger, he was going to have to be strong enough.

Stiles wasn't fooled by Derek's casual way of leaning against the elevator wall or not answering the clearly challenging howl. But he didn't comment on that for a change. He checked his gun – loaded with wolfsbane bullets – before tucking it back into the back of his jeans. Yes, he had magic on his side, but some extra protection could never hurt with his gun.

The two of them moved out of the building to come eye-to-eye with the alpha in his normal form, only his eyes were flaring red. The brown wolf, the Hale hoped, but since his scent has constantly been hidden, there was no way to know for sure yet. This alpha was tall, really tall, and built like a tree with long tangled hair and a cocky dangerous smirk on the handsome face.

He had howled, he had challenged, so if he wanted to fight one-on-one with Derek, it was going to happen. Derek was no coward hiding behind spelled walls. "It's about time you've showed yourself."

Stiles walked a step behind Derek once they were on the ground floor. Yes, it was an alpha, alright. And a gorgeous one at that.

"Fuck, he looks a lot like Jason Momoa. Not fair..." Stiles cursed at Derek under his breath. His mate knew how hooked he was on that actor, but understandably the parallel didn't bring the comic relief he was hoping for. The alphas were staring at each other, the tension strong enough to cut it.

Zepar

"So... what do you want?" Stiles cut to the chase, tired of the games. "Are you the brown wolf people saw lurking around in the woods?"

There was a white smirk from the stranger, which might have passed as a snarl too. Red eyes moved from the Hale alpha to his mate. The other alpha's remark was ignored. Instead Zepar tipped his head up, pushing his nose into the air to take a deep sniff from the Spark's scent when the wind shifted. From this close the spicy ozone-tinted scent was much stronger – and alluring.

"For you... I can be anything you want me to be. That alpha or Jason Momoa if that floats your boat," Zepar licked his lips, flirting heavily as he slowly sized up the young man. He was good enough to eat, but for a moment the challenging alpha scrunched his nose up. The mates reeked of sex and each other. A lot. There was that urge to make that scent go away, get replaced by his own, but Zepar's heavy boots didn't move closer. He was standing there in all his imposing tall and muscular built.

"You know why I came here, don't you?" Zepar flashed his red eyes back at Derek, the challenge back in that heavy gaze. "Your mate is mouthwatering even with your stench all over him."

Stiles had asked if this one was the brown wolf in the woods, there hadn't been a mention of an alpha but the giant took it there, called it an alpha which meant that had been him or he knew who it was. Derek didn't point that out, he preferred to be underestimated until he could use all the knowledge to his advantage.

"You can't have him," Derek growled, not surprised at the words. All the lurking and staying hidden have hinted at what the alpha wanted. He didn't come for Hale territory, he came for the Hale mate. Which in the end didn't change the challenge, even though it was the dumbest idea ever. Killing Derek, if he succeeded to win, would only result in Stiles' death too. There wouldn't be winners, only losers and death itself. The alpha did glance around though, to see if he spotted his reaper, since that would be a good sign of how this was going to end. She was absent.

"He's mine, he wants to be mine and I'll defend him if you try anything." His green eyes had bled into their Alpha red on instinct but he didn't step in front of Stiles despite wanting to. They were a united front, they were equals, that message was more important than his territorial need to hide his mate from the view of the big threat. This wasn't about showing who could bleed the most, he had to be smart. Derek wasn't a killer, unless provoked. "We bonded, there's nothing here for you."

Stiles wasn't used to getting hit on so bluntly and so if his cheeks colored a bit, that was because of that. Not because he wanted anything from the challenging buff guy. Yeah, he was attractive and clearly strong if this one was the brown wolf that's been able to evade them for weeks, not even leaving his scent anywhere. He knew there were wolves who had the ability to hide their presence and scent and those usually came from old wolf bloodlines. Was this guy the descendant of such a line of born wolves too?

"I'm his Emissary and Mate from my own free will," Stiles nodded to Derek's words, confirming them. "I don't wish to be anyone else's," he stated firmly, eyebrows drawing together as his irises began shimmering in the distinct color of a Spark. His right hand lifted from his side a bit to signal Derek with a small gesture to stand down and took a step closer to the alpha standing on the other side of the invisible protective wards Stiles had drawn around the building exactly for cases like this.

"I'd very much appreciate if we could avoid a fight. Especially because I don't like to be the reason for fights. I'd rather ask you to leave town in peace. If you know what I am, you know what I'm capable of. I don't wish to kill you, but if you force my hand, I will," he tried to reason and at the same time warn the other wolf.

"Not just cute but quirky and fearless too. You are the whole package, aren't you?" the wolf took a step closer to the Spark too, mostly ignoring the other alpha. He raised a hand, letting his claw grow on his index-finger and slowly 'scratched' along the invisible barrier, making colorful sparks flicker around the claw. It was his way of showing that he knew exactly that the area was warded off from intruders.

"Trying to be diplomatic in the face of a threat is a sign of a good Emissary," he nodded towards Stiles with something akin to respect. "The Hale pack is lucky with someone like you. And what an interesting pack it is... You, your adorable hybrid daughter, your human father, a Hellhound puppy..." he said, noticing the tightening of Stiles' jaw, which made him chuckle. "Yes, I know a Hellhound if I see or smell one," Zepar confirmed that he knew about their little 'secret weapon'. "And that tasty little beta. How's Tyr, by the way? I'd very much like to have some more fun with him in the forest. So give him my regards, will ya?" he grinned in a wolfish way, his tone exactly telling the mates what kind of encounters those were. "Oh! You didn't know about that? He didn't tell you?" he pretended to be shocked and sorry about that. Which he wasn't, of course, but he loved to rile these guys up, even if it was going to cause some problems for the beta.

But what Zepar loved even more was the shock on the Spark's face when he pushed his hand through the barrier and his body followed, forcing Stiles to take a step back and gasp in confusion. Because yes, with a standard wolf – even with an alpha – this shouldn't be possible. But Zepar wasn't just any alpha.

"Hale, you also know that I won't be the last to want to lay claim on your Spark. I'm just the first of a long line of challengers. If I know the nature of your bonds, others will know too that such bonds can be transferred. With or without consent. You just need a strong enough druid who's willing to do that. So if you die for some reason, it doesn't mean Stiles also has to follow you... He can be useful for... different purposes afterwards too," he said suggestively, provoking the alpha as he circled the Spark from the side.

All of their game plans, the few they had, were ripped away when the alpha revealed he knew everything about their pack, even Parrish's real nature. The alpha stepped through the protective wards like it meant nothing and even worse… he said he knew how to transfer their bonds so Derek could be killed and it would diminish Stiles to a life of slavery. Derek wasn't afraid to die, if it happened, it happened, but he wasn't going to do that so his mate would be bonded to a pack he didn't want. It made him shake with anger, the complete dismissal of his own life and the blatant lack of respect to who Stiles was as a person.

His claws grew out but he balled his fists and tried to not let his anger cloud his judgment. He wanted to, oh how he wanted to jump and slash that smug grin right off that face but he would be the one to have started it. Whatever happened after that swipe would be on him, not the other alpha. It would be a lie, if Derek denied he didn't like the fights but all the kills he had done, none of them had he enjoyed. Some had to happen, some he had been forced into. He wasn't a killer. Didn't want to be one.

Stepping forward, Derek took a protective stance in front of his mate, becoming a barrier between the alpha and the Spark.

"There's nobody here yet willing to transfer bonds, so that means you're not interested in killing me for now. I could kill you right now and you wouldn't dare to kill me because you know you've lost then. You've watched, hidden, you could have driven us apart, instead you've used your time to fuck an omega."

Derek was done with being treated like he wasn't there, done with the suggestive looks thrown to his mate like he was a piece of meat. "You're not the first alpha to come here and watch me and judge me and fight me. You're right, you won’t be the last either. You want to fight? Let's fight." Yes please. He was eager to do some damage to this one.

No, this wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't possible. Did Stiles just fail with his wards? How? What was so... different about this wolf? He had to figure it out. And fast. He could tell Derek was at the brink of jumping at the uncomfortably close alpha. As much as the druid appreciated the protective positioning that would keep him 'hidden', he had to take a step to the side to be able to look at the grinning tall beast who just cracked his neck, shifting into his beta form with as much ease as if he was taking a breath.

Stiles had to think fast so he called upon the Spark, the magic so ready, so close to the surface in the face of the threat against him and their mate. It was nearly too easy and Stiles had to hold it back not to burst the alpha's ass back just yet. Instead his now brightly glowing eyes narrowed onto the man, the shift in the air caused by the magic and the scent of ozone palpable for all of them. Good thing that there weren't any humans nearby, especially not this early in the morning.

"Derek..." Stiles murmured in warning, a weak attempt to keep his mate from giving into the boiling anger which was tugging at their bonds already. But he ignored that in favor of focusing on the wolf with his different vision. Now he cursed for not having some mountain ash with him. He should've brought that damned enchanted bottle Deaton had warned him to have on him at all times, but he forgot it in their haste. Well yeah... this is why he hated to face a challenge without a plan.

"What makes you think I'm here alone? You weren't able to locate me or track my scent all these weeks. Oh sweetie, you are just as lost and clueless like when that Argent bitch or the darach seduced you," Zepar taunted with long fangs, claws at the ready, red eyes flashing at the other alpha. A fight sounded like some nice exercise for sure. Zepar has been idle for too long, even if he had learned new things about the Hale pack each day. Not to mention the previous research he had done on them and of which he just dropped hints of. His comments at least clued in the mates that there was very little he didn't know about Derek.

"You're kind of a disappointment, to be honest. No wonder I find your mate much more interesting. And one way or another, I'll make him my Spark and bitch..." he pushed further, even blowing a kiss to the powering up Spark. And he had to keep an eye on that.

The soft spoken whisper of his name was heard but Derek didn't pay attention to it, because it would be seen as a distraction if he did. Stiles was trying to reign him in, to not let himself be drawn into the fight, to make him be the first one to attack.

When the word ‘sweetie’ was used, it felt like the ground dropped away from under him, not expecting the alpha to know such intimate knowledge. Or for him to so casually throw out his relationships with two women who used him. It shocked Derek into silence. This smirking stranger had no right to talk like that, no right at all. Derek saw red, his shaking intensified as he attempted to keep himself together for Stiles' sake but all three of them knew it was a lost cause at this point. Especially when the large werewolf decided to twist the knife in a little further, as if there hadn't been enough damage done already.

Derek didn't care about being a disappointment, that wasn't anything new, those words didn't hurt anymore. But to call his mate a bitch? The alpha was already mid-flight with a loud roar as he shifted to his beta form, claws and fangs out, his face morphed into something else smoothly and without effort. Birds flew away in fright in a flock of sounds, Derek landing on the large alpha with the intent to rake his claws across the body. The Hale wasn’t as tall or as muscular, but he was lean and agile and so fast that it bought him some advantage.

"Fuck..." Stiles cursed the second those sentences left the unknown alpha's mouth, because he knew they were going to be the last drop for his mate. And what worried him even more was the indication that Zepar might be not alone and that he knew so damn much about them. Or at least about Derek. Which meant he came prepared. Yes, his goal was made very clear, even if Stiles ignored it, though he also started to get pissed from being constantly objectified.

He watched helplessly as his mate collided with the bigger body, pushing the alpha back only one step and he was already moving, slicing a clawed arm across the air.

That's when Stiles' glowing eyes finally saw it and the magic began swirling around his fists.

"Derek, be careful! He's protected by magic!" he shouted, hoping that his mate would hear it through the loud alpha roars as the two went at each other viciously.

A brief fanged smirk flashed on Zepar's face. Of course, he anticipated the shorter alpha's attack. He finally cracked and got triggered enough to attack. And he was as fast as he suspected, fully using his shorter stature. His claws managed to catch the sleeve of Zepar's shirt, ripping it, but he danced away fast enough not to let them rake across his skin too.

"Damn, I liked this shirt a lot!" he growled now back at Derek once he put a little distance between them and this time his stance was an offensive one too. Zepar allowed himself a brief glimpse at the Spark who cleverly figured out one of his secrets. But he had more in store. "Damn right... Now let's see what you're made of, little alpha..." he panted through his fangs and right in front of their eyes his face started to change, dark streaks of magic crawling across his cheeks and up on his forehead, changing his face a lot like Derek's, but his aura became more oppressive and powerful.

Then he was charging at the Hale with razor-sharp claws and fangs.

It wasn't bad enough that the alpha was a tall hulking mass, no, he had to be protected by magic as well. The moment he shifted, it was felt in the air, and it was powerful, strong. The other man had known he had the upper hand all this time, he had only toyed with them for some reason Derek didn't understand and didn't have the time to figure out. The other alpha had no intention of killing him but that didn't mean this fight was without its dangers. Alpha wounds needed time to heal, the fight with Ennis had proven that much.

When the other charged, Derek jumped into the air to avoid the fangs even though he couldn't fully avoid the claws, so they raked across his leg, splitting open fabric and flesh. The blood sprayed in an arc while the Hale twisted in the air, jamming all of his claws into the one shoulder he had managed to get before he landed. It wasn't a fully graceful landing, his leg gave out briefly before Derek was able to ignore the pain flaring up. The blood was trickling out, not gushing or spraying so nothing important was hit to slow him down.

He didn't allow himself the time to get into a defensive position, the moment he was on the ground, he charged again, hoping to get in close enough to go for the more vulnerable parts. Neck, throat, stomach, eyes, groin. Mid-way he rolled in the air to give a drop kick instead, knowing it was expected for him to use claws and fangs. But in a fight, he used everything.

It happened rarely that Zepar would be caught off guard, but this time the Hale alpha managed that. He had to give it to Derek that he was faster than him and clearly experienced in combat. Zepar felt blood soaking through his torn shirt, the pain flaring up in his shoulder ignored for the time being, because he was attacked again and the second he saw that leg come at him fast, he knew he wasn't going to be able to dodge it in time.

So he went with the kick and found his impressive body fly through the air. He hit the concrete hard, scraping his hands and cheek, but he didn't give in to the dizziness and rolled into a crouch. With a pissed off snarl he was on the move the next second, launching himself towards the other alpha, but instead of meeting him head on, in the last second he decided to slide under him and rake a clawed hand across the vulnerable stomach.

Blood splattered onto his face and a part of him reveled in the painful grunt the injury caused. But he didn't pause for a second. The moment he found his grounding again, he was swirling around and got behind his injured opponent, his own speed picking up from the adrenaline and heat of the fight.

His booted foot came down hard on Derek's bleeding leg and there was a sickening crack of a bone as it broke from his kick. It would heal, yes, but it immobilized the Hale long enough to create an opening for a possible killer blow.

Derek's pain and yells resonated through Stiles who's been trying to follow the happenings. Even his glowing eyes had difficulty to keep up with the speed the wolves were fighting with, which meant that he kept failing to see an opening where he could have stepped in and break up the fight.

Up until the point when he heard that awful crack and saw his mate go down hard, the other alpha standing over him, ready to inflict more pain and damage. What came through the bond made Stiles' spine tingle with a rush of pain, white noise filling his ears, his vision narrowing down.

Derek had went down hard, arm curled around his stomach to protect himself and keep certain organs from dropping out, because the claws had sliced through muscle and skin too easily and it had left him open. His leg broken, the femur snapping in half so his leg had decided to give up, Derek ended up in a too vulnerable position, curled up on the ground. It had been a good effort, he had managed to surprise the alpha but fighting against one fueled by magic was like fighting a whole pack by himself. It made for an embarrassingly short fight because it hadn't been fair from the start. Bloodied hands pushed against his belly, feeling some bulging happening from the fall. Intestines, he had some experience with having those outside of his body. Frantically pushing them back in, he felt the alpha standing over him, grinning.

The magic in Stiles was triggered hard and fast and he had no means or care to hold it back. Not when his mate's life was on the line!

"ENOUGH!!!" the Spark shouted, throwing out both of his glowing hands, a shock wave of his magic hitting the alpha full force in a couple of seconds, forcing him to take a step back and drew the alpha's attention on him. Stiles suspected that any other wolf would've been flying back, but this fucking alpha was protected by someone's magic! He saw the signs, the bond.

It wasn't enough. He wasn't enough. And that evil smirk on the bloody face did it. It was as if the alpha was actually enjoying this, expecting it.

And he'll get it for hurting his mate!

Stiles roared as he reached deep inside for his Spark and conjured up more magic, his veins turning amber all over his arms, neck and face, the tendrils of his tattoo peeking out from under his shirt. First it started with the usual amber flow. Like smoldering embers blown by the wind. A golden mist, if you like. It hit the alpha again, who grinned wider and crossed his forearms in front of him, the tribal tattoos on them shining up in a mixture of silver and black. Protective spells kicking in, Stiles realized.

That all just pissed him off more and he shouted in frustration, momentarily pulling his hands back just to toss them out in front of him again, pushing more magic through them. He felt such an intense power burning through his arms like never before. The Spark in him was bright, turning from a flame into an inferno and the golden mist which was pushing on the alpha and his protective spells nearly immediately turned into a flood of fire, pushing the alpha to start retreating despite his ability to withstand most of it. But Stiles knew he was wearing down the spells put on him. He just has to push enough...

What happened then was hard to describe, Derek felt the magic stirring from his mate, sweltering into the familiar heat, drawing the attention of the alpha more. No... No! Derek reached out with his hand, wanting to stop the tall man from going to his mate, but his grunts of pain did nothing. Neither did Stiles' magic. They were way out of their comfort zones with this one, and they had been the ones to underestimate the situation.

The magic tugged at the Hale and the next moment a giant bird of fire appeared before Stiles as it flew over to the two alphas, searing heat tickling at his skin. It didn't harm Derek, it washed over him like a too hot shower without the pain of the burns, engulfed in the flames along with the magical alpha. Derek's eyes were wide, he had to keep it together right now, ignore the fire, ignore all the triggers pulling at him as he wanted to dissociate and not be here anymore. Not now. Stiles needed him to be strong, his mate needed him!

There was this strange tug at Derek, as if something wanted to crawl out of him, and he realized it was the magic inside of him needing to get to Stiles to give that final push. He was straining to keep it going. Derek wasn't magical, he wasn't good at this, yet on instinct he knew what to do as he used their bonds to guide the magic to Stiles, opening up everything to join them fully in a last ditch effort to be of some use. His eyes flared from red to amber to green, giving it away.

Yes, Zepar wanted exactly this to happen. To see, to feel the Spark in action. To know just how strong he really was. The spells of the Leader kicked in just like he knew they would. They were strong to keep him protected from magical attacks. After all, he was their best tracker and enforcer...

But what he didn't expect was how fast the Spark's fire was wearing down the Leader's spells. Which meant one thing: Stiles was already even stronger than they suspected. And at the brink of losing control. Zepar knew enough about magic and bonds to understand that his opponent wasn't finished yet. That there was more to be used against him.

And as he watched the rage in the brightly glowing eyes and the violent way the magical fire was sizzling around him in the air, Zepar's cocky grin slowly melted off his face, his brows pulling together.

Stiles couldn't stop. Couldn't let his mate's momentary terror break his concentration. He felt the additional magic pulsing through the bonds in rushed waves, fueling the constant flow of fire from his arms and Stiles began walking towards the alpha, forcing to push him back more and more and to finally stand between him and his injured mate.

He didn't have to look down to know that he got Derek good and not just with the broken leg. He could feel Derek's pain nearly like his own, but instead of dulling his senses, he was hyper-aware of everything! He was way past being affected by those feelings as his whole being was on one single task: gather enough magic to blast this bastard's ass out of there.

And slowly a dark smirk crawled onto his sweat-drenched face over the glowing veins, because he felt another buildup of the magic happening in him. Bigger and more violent even from the previous wave. It wanted to hurt. To burn. To kill. All because this enemy hurt their mate! He DARED to hurt Derek and the anger bubbled up again in Stiles from that thought as the fire intensified, starting to create cracks on the wolf's defense, reaching flesh to burn. He was going to burn him into ashes! He wanted that so badly... It'd be so easy too. Unleash everything and leave only smoldering ashes from the asshole!

"You better run. Now!" Stiles whispered on a hoarse, echoing voice which could be heard clearly despite the thundering flow of magical fire. A threat in his glowing eyes as he was holding back the magic with the last ounce of his will.

And it seemed the alpha wasn't as stupid as he made them believe. He kept retreating, not turning his back on Stiles until it got out of the range of the fire, forearms blackened but not crispy enough for Stiles' taste. He watched the defeated wolf look at them one more time then he ran off with an impressive speed despite his injuries.

That's when Stiles had to focus fully on reining in the magic by closing his eyes and taking deep calming breaths. He was thinking of Derek, his anchor. He needed enough magic to be left to help heal him along with his balms and spells.

Derek…

The mantra of his mate's name seemed to work because the flow of fire ebbed down, leaving the air heavy with the scent of ozone – void of the smell of actual fire because this was pure magic. And Stiles' legs finally gave out next to his mate, landing a bit too hard on his hands and knees, but he didn't care as the magic kept receding, the bright glow in his eyes dimming too as he looked over his bloody mate, worry etched onto his sweaty face.

"Derek... What... do I do?" he asked, panting from the enormous strain that was just put on his body.

Stiles had been beautiful and magnificent and frankly, terrifying. The way the magic had formed in the image of a phoenix, a bird of complete fire, larger and overtaking everything. Deep down Derek had known it wasn't going to harm him, it never was going to harm him but there was no way he was ready to deal with fire this up close and personal. Survival had made him block it all out, made him focus on Stiles as a whole and not Stiles as the fire element. The fire had moved away, and the scent of the other alpha had disappeared, for now. He was going to come back but now they would be better prepared for it.

"Shhhh," he soothed when Stiles fell down next to him, exhaustion tugging at the both of them heavily. Maybe there was enough energy to help him but... he couldn't. Right now he didn't want magic anywhere near him, didn't want Deaton close when he was literally belly up on the ground. That alpha had been fueled by magic, which meant there was a druid behind him, and it was too much right now to have the vet around, also smelling like what he had picked up on the stranger. Somebody had been talking, somebody had divulged personal information. What they needed right now was somebody Derek trusted.

"You're exhausted, I'll call Parrish, it's fine. I need some stitches. I'll be good as new." Kind of. But god, no, no more spells and fire right now. It wasn't even a lie, Stiles had given so much of himself. Getting his phone out of his pocket was near impossible with the blood, thankfully there was still Siri. "Siri, call Jordan Parrish." He sounded out of breath, tasted blood in his mouth.

"It's fine," he assured Stiles, reaching for him to pet him on the cheek, getting him all bloodied too.

"Jordan, can you come to the loft with some speed? The brown wolf made itself known, Noah can tell me I told you so. Bring your werewolf first aid kit. Maybe some extra thread and needles....." He paused to look at the mess of his stomach. "Definitely some extra thread." They were outside so they weren't hard to miss.

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