Every movement of his shirt against his skin sent his heart racing. He was sure Scott could hear it because his friend kept cocking his head to the side every time it happened. Stiles was sure that Scott wanted to say something but they were in class with a mega douche of a teacher that happened to really like picking on the troublesome duo and Scott really couldn't afford another detention this week.

Having to reach for his bag to grab a new pen seemed like an impossible task and the teenager couldn't hold back a whimper as he felt his ribs crunch in his chest. Scott had obviously heard it too because he suddenly turned around and looked horrified, his eyes glowing lightly as if his wolf was showing through to look at Stiles too. Before Scott could say anything however, Mr Harris decided to turn around and tell the young wolf to do the same before he got issued yet another detention.

Scott reluctantly turned around barely controlling the low growl that came from him. Stiles was, despite his mutual hatred for Mr Harris, grateful for the distraction and hoped the were-wolf would forget.

Scott knew that Stiles had been taken by Gerard but the human had left some details out of what he had told his best friend and his father. They had obviously seen the bruises and grazes on his face but what he hid under his shirt was much worse and he knew it. But he also knew that they had a lot more to deal with than the silly human that couldn't handle himself in a fight with an old man. So he hid the bruises as best he could and took as many painkillers as he could safely consume and pretended they made a difference.

Of course his dad had wanted him to stay home after being "beaten up by the kids on the other lacrosse team" but he still had to help the pack with everything going on and staying home would just give his Dad more cause to worry. He was fine, he could keep going and he would.

Stiles wrapped his arms tighter around his chest despite the pain it caused because while it hurt it also helped him to breathe a little easier if only for a little while. When he had seen his chest that morning Stiles had almost driven himself to the hospital. It looked almost as bad as it felt. His chest was a mess of bruises and grazes from the kicks of that stupid hunter. He knew he should get his broken ribs checked but the boy was firmly in his "ignore the problem till it goes away" mood so he put some ice packs on and numbed it the best he could before putting on his shirt and hoodie and heading to school.

He told himself he would get checked out as soon as the whole kanima mess was over because he could probably handle it till then. He just needed to keep his injuries from the pack and if that meant avoiding them then so be it. The bell rung and Scott turned to his friend's desk in time to see the human hobble to the door as quickly as he could, leaving the scent of pain and anxiety behind which planted itself firmly in the wolfs nose.

Stiles shuffled down the hallway biting down on his hand to stop from making any noise. If he could only make it to his jeep he would be fine. He would skip the rest of school and research everything he could about the kanima so he could get some stronger pain meds. Yeah that's a good idea, solve the kanima problem and then focus on himself.

Scott burst through the front doors of the school just as Stiles' jeep turned the corner, leaving the wolf to stare on in frustration.

….

Stiles had meant to go straight to his laptop to start researching but his legs took him to his bed instead and he crawled in as carefully as he could. He was just so tired and sore if he could just rest for a while maybe then he could find an answer for the kanima. His labored breathing slowed and his eyes fell firmly shut as he lost the strength to stay awake.