So after the whole Possessed!Stiles thing, I had this great Idea for what if Stiles was a Kitsune before the whole werewolf shit went down. I have yet to read one that is like this, so I thought I would write it. There are conversations and parts that are thrown in here from the series, but I am changing a lot of things, so not everything is happening in the right order or is happening at all. In fact, when I get to season two, things are not going to be the same like at all. So please stick with me through the rough parts cause I think this could be something good, or at least I hope you will think it is.

Growing up as a Kitsune hasn't been the easiest of experiences, especially without the help of my mother. She died when I was eleven years old, fighting off a Nogitsune. A Void Spirit. My mother was of the Heaven Clan. There are thirteen kinds of Kitsune spirits and not all of them are good, but my mother, she was one of the strongest. She was just over seven hundred years old, something my father never really could wrap his head around, and she fought the Void to save the whole town. But in the end, it took her life to finish the task she set out to do. I was too young to help her; my powers were only just starting to show. But I have used what she has taught me and have hidden myself from everything. Natural and supernatural.

My father knows what I am. He knew what my mother was. But he has always been a bit intimidated by the whole supernatural world. Now that we really have nothing to do with it, I think he is happier. But I can tell he misses my mother every day. I haven't told anyone what I am because my mother always told me not to. I am Forest Kitsune, and the need to run in the woods is sometimes so great that I have to hole myself up in my closet just to contain myself. I don't tell dad any of what is going on with me in that aspect. I know he would listen if I did tell him, but I think that he just wants to turn a blind eye to the whole thing.

Nevertheless my curiosity often gets me into trouble. Like now, here I am listening into my father's phone conversation about a dead body out in the woods. And instead of listening to the rational part of my brain, I let the fox take some control and go over to find Scott so that we can go look for it.

"Stiles, what the hell are you doing?"

"You weren't answering your phone." So I only called once. He won't know that. "Why do you have a bat?" and he does. A wood bat that he is brandishing threateningly. I am still hanging upside down from where I fell to get to his window, but its' kind of fun, so I don't mind.

"I thought you were a predator." At this I can't help but laugh. While some Kitsune could be considered just that, I am far from a predator.

When I finally get myself under control again, Scott is looking at me weird. This is nothing new to our relationship so I don't make a fuss about it. "Look, I know it's late, but you gotta hear this. I heard my dad on the phone like twenty minutes ago. Dispatch called. They are bringing in like every officer from the Beacon Department, and even state police."

"For what?" The fact that he hasn't yet commented that I am still hanging upside down just goes to show how good of a friend he is.

"Two joggers found a body in the woods." I pull myself up so I can jump down to the ground. I make it a bit less graceful than what I am truly capable of. So far I have portrayed myself as this spastic, flaily kid, and part of that is true, but when I really want to be I could be nimble and fluid as well.

"A dead body?"

"No, a body of water. Yes, dumb-ass, a dead body." Then I jump up so I am on the porch with him as we continue our conversation.

"You mean like murdered?"

"Nobody knows yet. Just that it was a girl, probably in her twenties."

"Hold on," Really? I want to go now! "if they found the body then what are they looking for?"

"That's the best part. They only found half." I pause for dramatic effect, and there is a look of shock on his face. "We're going." It takes some more convincing to get him to come. But after I make the argument that he just said last week that nothing exciting ever happens here, he put away the bat and locked up his house. His mom is working the night shift and we should make it back before she gets home. Dad won't be too happy that we are out there, so I have to make sure not to get caught.

The drive out to the preserve is filled with anxiousness and Scott's weariness. I can tell that he wants to go back, but at the same time wants to find out what is going on too.

As we get out of the jeep and enter the tree line, all of my senses are instantly on high alert. There is something out there, and now I just want to go back, but Scott has already started to make his way into the woods. "Scott, I think this was a bad idea. We should go home. You've been saying how you want to get on first line this year, so maybe we should go so you can get a full night's sleep before practice tomorrow." It is true. He has been saying how he wants to get better at lacrosse so he can get on first line, but I don't know how he will seeing as he is a severe asthmatic.

"Dude, you are the one who dragged me out here. Now you're having second thoughts?" He just scoffs at me and keeps walking. I can't leave him out here alone, so I go after him hoping that nothing will happen to us. He stays ahead of me pulling the flashlight from my hand. Really it is only him that needs it anyway. Being a Kitsune has some great perks, amazing eyesight, superb hearing, increased healing, enhanced speed, and incredible reflexes. All of that is better than a wolf's, as in werewolf, but a wolf has a better sense of smell, and greater strength than I could ever hope to possess. Also, I am not pulled by the moon and have the ability to create Fox Fire. Really, all I have used this for is to create little balls of light to amuse myself with at night when I can't sleep. It can be used as a weapon though should the need arise. The illusions that my mother made are not within my wheelhouse yet. Sometimes I can make them, but they don't keep for very long. The fox form is something that I only just started mastering in the last year. Dad doesn't even know that I can do it yet. Mostly I stay holed up in my closet when I am transformed. There is no half shape for me like there is for a wolf, and for that I am grateful. The last power I have is not one that I will ever use. It is a form of mind control, and I could never use that on someone. To take someone's free will is the ultimate evil in my book. I know how to do it, kind of, but will never put it into practice. If I can't talk my way out of situation, then I don't deserve to get out of it.

"Just out of curiosity, which half of the body are we looking for?" Scott keeps walking forward, but turns his head to ask me.

"Uh, I'm not really sure."

"And, what if whoever killed the body is still out here?"

"I didn't think about that? Maybe we should turn around and go home. We can forget this ever happened."

He laughs and keeps going forward, slowly climbing up an embankment. "It's comforting to know you've planned this out with your usual attention to detail." He is wheezing a little by the time we reach the top and takes a quick puff from his inhaler before I pull him to the ground. There are flashlights moving towards us and I really want to just take him and get the hell out of there.

He gets up to start running parallel to the sweep coming our way. As I start to follow him I hear another sound deeper in the woods. There is a panting with a low growl accompanied by quick steps through the underbrush. It's the wolf. I turn to grab Scott and get the hell out of there, but he is gone. So I start to listen for him and try to pick up his scent. It is faint, and I can't get a grasp on it with all the other people moving through the trees. "Scott!" I whisper/yell his name, but get no response. So I start to race through the trees after him. I can't leave him to get mauled. I just hope I find him first.

Just as I am coming around a tree I am taken off guard by a dog and a deputy. I fall gracelessly to my ass and the dog quits it barking after I give it a strong glare. "Hold on, hold on. This little delinquent belongs to me."

Not wanting to give anything away in front of the deputy I play the idiotic son. "Dad, how are you doing?"

"So, do you listen in to all my phone calls?"

"No. Just the interesting ones."

"Now, where's your usual partner in crime?"

My hearing hones in on his heartbeat. It is farther off to the right. He isn't within hearing distance of us now, even if we were to yell. I need to get dad out of here and to Scott as quick as I can. "Who, Scott? Scott's home. Said he wanted to get a good night's sleep for the first day back at school tomorrow. It's just me. In the woods. Totally alone." I put some emphasis on the last few words, hoping that dad will understand that something is wrong.

The look in his eyes tells me he gets it and that I am in so much trouble when this is over. "Well, then I guess I am going to have to walk you back to your car." He comes over and puts a hand on the back of my neck just like mom used to when I was in trouble. "You and I are gonna have a conversation about something called invasion of privacy." He nods the deputy off and we start our trek deeper into the woods. As soon as we get a decent distance between us and the search unit, he drops his hand and then turns on me. "Now what in the hell is going on?"

"Okay, we need to keep moving. There is a wolf out here. I am pretty sure that it is what killed that girl. Scott pulled ahead of me and I lost him. He is out there on his own, and there is rouge wolf loose. We have to find him. You got those wolfsbane bullets with you?"

"A werewolf?" He sighs. "No, I didn't bring them."

"Dad, you need to have that stuff on you at all times. I know you don't like it, but it is the only thing that will keep you safe when I'm not around."

"It's not your job to protect me, Stiles."

"It is when it comes to this stuff. Now we have to get moving. I can hear Scott. He's over this way, and the wolf isn't too far off." I keep my pace sedated enough that dad can keep up with me. I don't want to lose him by moving too fast.

Then there is a howl and a scream. I'm too late. They aren't that far off now, so I pick up speed and get there just as the wolf is pulling away from Scott. He is so deformed. Nothing like what mom told me a werewolf should look like. Plus this guy's an Alpha. Those crimson red eyes are a dead giveaway. Great.

It doesn't take much thought for me to form a ball of lighting in my hand and hurl it at the wolf. He is just a little too slow to completely evade it and I get his left hind leg before he scurries into the trees. I light up another ball and keep it ready, just in case. But then Scott is groaning on the ground and dad is coming through the trees. I let the ball of lighting flicker out and drop to Scott's side. There is blood coming from his abdomen and when I pull back the sweatshirt there is a massive bite mark there. Shit. My best friend is going to turn into a werewolf. Great. Just great.

"Is he okay?"

"Kind of?"

"What do you mean kind of?"

"Uh, that was an Alpha. An Alpha's bite turns a human into a werewolf. Scott got bit by the Alpha."

"Shit."

"Exactly." I lean back on the heels of my feet and let my senses spread out again. I want to make sure that the wolf is gone for now. But something I wasn't expecting makes my nose twitch. The smell of decay. "Uh, dad, I think I know where the other half of that body is." We lift Scott together and I lead us to where the stench is coming from. About thirty feet from where Scott was sprawled out is half of a woman. The upper half. Then another scent hits me. "Dad, she was a werewolf too."

"Damnit." He calls in the location of the body and then tells me to get Scott home. When he wakes up I have some explaining to do. Hefting Scott's body onto one of my shoulders I make good use of my enhanced abilities to get us back to my jeep as fast as I can. The drive home is quite and all I can think about is how Scott is going to get a crash course in the supernatural world. But also, that I will finally get to share my secret with someone besides my dad for the first time ever. That prospect makes me a little bit happier.

Getting Scott into the house is a little easier because he has started to wake up and is able to shuffle up the driveway and into the house. Once we hit the living room I set him on the couch and go grab him a glass of water. When I come back into the living room he is sitting up, one hand rubbing his head as if he is in the thralls of a migraine, while the other is lightly pressing at the bite wound. "Stiles? What the hell just happened?"

I hand him the water and sit down on the coffee table in front of him. "Oh, Scotty. So we have a few things to talk about."

"Where are we? Weren't we just in the woods?"

"Uh, yeah, we were. But you got attacked and I had to haul your ass back to my place so you wouldn't freak out in the trees. No Blair Witch Project moment for you."

He gives a wince of a smile and takes a long pull at the glass of water. "What happened?"

"What do you know about werewolves?"

"Werewolves?"

"Yes, werewolves, you know, getting furry, howling at the moon, losing control of your body once a month? Werewolves?"

"This is some kind of sick joke, dude. I was just attacked and you think now is the time for jokes?"

"I wish I was joking Scott. I really do. You were bitten by an Alpha werewolf. The bite of an Alpha will turn you into one. Sorry dude, but you're gonna be one whether you like it or not."

He stands up and sways a bit before finding his balance. "Seriously, not funny."

I stand with him. "I know. Now if you just sit back down, I can-"

"No, I'm outta here. See you tomorrow at school. Maybe you can quit the joke then." He walks past me before I can stop him, and slams the front door as he leaves. Knowing Scott, he just needs a few days to process this. But the full moon is only a couple of days away, so he doesn't have much time to get his shit together. I don't want to hurt him, but I won't let him hurt anyone else either. I know he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he did.

I sink back into the couch and pull out my phone to call dad. "Hey, kid. How'd the talk go?"

"Horribly. He left and didn't believe me. Wouldn't even give me time to prove to him that this shit is real. Dad, he is going to put so many people in danger."

"We'll keep him and everyone else safe, kid. Don't worry. He just needs some time. It's gonna be a while before I can make it home, I want you to go to the basement and close the door. I'll be home to let you out for school, don't worry. Keep your phone on you and please for the love of God, don't get into any more trouble."

"I won't dad. Stay safe yourself."

"Will do, son. Now try and get some sleep. I'll be home in a few hours." He hangs up and I take myself straight to the basement door. It is always left ajar when I am home alone. Since it is made of mountain ash, and the entire basement is lined in the stuff, it acts as a security system for the supernatural. I can't touch the door, but it is set on an automatic release from other side, so all I have to do it push the lever up to close the door.

Once I am down there I am nervous and scared. The last time we had and Alpha werewolf in town was when the Hales were here. They didn't know about us, and we kept out of their way. Since most of the family died, there has been a lack of supernatural activity in our little town. I have always wanted some adventure, but now I wish that it would just go away. I have a feeling that after tonight, my life is going to messy and filled with crazy things happening. I shuck all my clothes and then shift into my fox form to curl up to fall into a restless sleep.

…

The next day dad wakes me up with a raised eyebrow. He doesn't say anything, just sets some clothes down for me and heads back upstairs to start making breakfast. I shift and change then go up to meet him.

"When did that happen?" He doesn't turn from the stove, but keeps his voice light.

"Um, about a year ago." He makes a noise of acknowledgement and keeps cooking. I don't know what that is supposed to mean, so I let it drop for now. There is too much on my mind to think about it for too long. "So, do you know who the dead girl is?"

"You know I can't talk about open cases."

"I know, but dad, this is supernatural. You might need my help."

"Nope. Not going there with you. You need to keep yourself out of this."

"Dad, that's going to be hard with my best friend being turned into a werewolf." He sighs in resignation.

"I know. But I don't want to see you get hurt. This is dangerous Stiles, and I can't be there to protect you all the time."

"Dad, I can take care of myself. I have a few tricks up my sleeve that no wolf will ever see coming. Scott is gonna need me. And I'm gonna need you. Please." I'm not trying to be whiney, but dad has to understand how important all of this is.

"Fine, but I'm not going to tell you anything about this case unless you absolutely need to know it. So, no, we don't know who the Jane Doe is yet. But we are running her fingerprints through the system. I got them to hold off on the blood test for a little bit, but I don't know how long I'll be able to put that off."

"Okay, I think you should be fine with her blood. Pretty sure that the werewolf gene doesn't show up with everything else. Although that would be interesting if it did."

"Now you need to go to school. Try and talk to Scott again, but don't push him too far. And I want you home by seven. It gets darker quicker now, and I don't want you out with an Alpha prowling about. Understand?"

"Yeah, dad. I got it." I start to pick up my bag and grab my keys, then turn and wrap my arms around dad in a tight hug. "Stay safe, I can't lose you too." He hugs me back tightly then lets me go.

Once I get to school, I try to find Scott, but he is talking with some guys from the lacrosse team and is adamantly avoiding me. Our first class together is English and he pointedly sits facing the front of the room away from me, and I don't get the chance to grab his attention before the bell rings.

The teacher starts to talk about the dead body and how the police have a suspect in custody, lie, and that we should focus on the work at hand. Just as he starts to give his overview of the semester, Scott flinches. It takes me a second to open my senses to hear what he is, and it leads to this girl sitting outside talking on the phone. A new girl. Scott's on high alert as they make their way into the school. Then one of the guidance counselors opens the door to the class room. "Class this is Allison Argent-" and at that, I quit listening to everything else he has to say and keep my eyes on her. Argent. Argent. The Argents are one of the most infamous Hunting families to ever exist. The fact that they are in Beacon Hills just as a new Alpha appears is no coincidence.

She walks into the classroom and takes the only seat available. Next to me and behind Scott. My heart is thudding in my chest and then I hear Scott's too. But when I look at him I have to stop a groan from escaping my mouth. There are freaking hearts in his eyes. Of course Scott would have to go and gush after one of the only things that's capable of taking him out. Now I really have to talk to him. He can't even think about this girl, and he has to keep his nose so clean that dust will be afraid to settle there.

It isn't until lacrosse practice that I am able to talk to him for any length of time. But just as we are about to sit on the bench, coach comes over and hands Scott the Goalie equipment. As he heads out onto the field I can tell that this will either blow up and be terrible, or he will swing with his new found abilities and everything will be fine. Either way, he is about to make an impression on the coach and rest of the team.

The first ball hits him square in the head and he goes down with it, but every ball after that he catches. Even Jackson's. All I can do is chew on my glove and wait for him to come back over to me. When practice is finally over and we are headed to my car, it's as if he hadn't ignored me all day long. He was still reeling from practice and I can't bring myself to break his happy mood.

That is until he tells me that he wants to go out to the woods to search for his missing inhaler. "Scott, I told you, that isn't a good idea."

"You still aren't on this werewolf thing, are you?" I start to make my way out there and as we hit the preserve I make sure to keep all my senses open like I did last time.

"Scott, how do you explain how you suddenly, overnight, managed to get so good at lacrosse? I mean, you have had virtually zero experience as goalie, yet you managed to catch every single shot that was thrown at you. How were you able to do that?"

"I don't know. It was like I had all the time in the world to catch the ball."

"Exactly. You're reflexes are better. And how about the other stuff?"

"What other stuff?"

"Like how you heard the new girl on the phone when she was outside? I bet hearing isn't the only sense that is heightened right now is it?"

"How did you know that I heard that?"

"Cause I was paying attention to you, and I was able to hear it too."

"How?"

"I'm a Kitsune. A fox spirit. So was my mom."

"What? Is that even a real thing?"

"Yes, want me to prove it to you?"

"How are you gonna prove it to me?"

I don't respond, I just hold out a hand and create a ball of light in my hand. Then I let it dance around us before extinguishing it. "Enough proof for you?"

He still looks skeptical. "That could have been a party trick."

"Fine." After taking a sweep of the surroundings not sensing anything I let the Kitsune aura push to the surface so that Scott can see it.

"Dude!" He holds out a hand as if to touch the glowing force around me and I pull back reflexively.

As I let it fade we continue our walk through the trees. "You can't tell anyone. There are people out there who hunt us down. Many of them shoot first and ask questions later. Some of them just shoot."

"Okay, but I-" I clamp a hand over his mouth and shush him. There is someone walking through the trees not too far away from us. Making sure my Aura is hidden away, I whisper to Scott to act natural and to get behind me if things get ugly. He nods and he bends down to look through the underbrush. "I swear this is where I lost it. Those things are like eighty bucks, my mom is gonna kill me if I don't find it."

If none of that was true we would have been screwed. Scott isn't the best of actors, and it takes all I have to not keep looking in the direction where the person is coming from. It isn't until he is visible through the trees that I hit Scott and make him stand to look at the stranger with me. But as I take a closer look and get a slight hint of the guys scent do I realize that this is Derek Hale. Hale as in the wolf pack that used to live here.

He stalks towards us with a glower on his face. "What are you doing here? Huh? This is private property." If you weren't paying attention you wouldn't see what Derek is doing as he talks. But I am always paying attention to the actions of others around me. His nostrils flare a bit taking in our scents, his head turns just a bit to the side as if he is listening to our heartbeats, and his pupils dilate when he comes to smell that Scott is a wolf.

"Uh, Sorry, man, we didn't know." Truth. I didn't know where the Hale territory line stood because one, I don't go running in the woods, and two the Hale's haven't lived here in almost six years.

"Yeah, we were just looking for something, but…" Derek raises his eyebrows waiting for an answer. "Uh, forget it." Derek pulls his hand out of the pocket of his leather jacket, which totally suits him by the way, and tosses Scott's inhaler at him then turns and walks away with a final glare at us.

I hold us back until I am sure that Derek is out of earshot. "Do you know who that was?"

"No, do you?"

"That was Derek Hale. He's not that much older than us. His family died in a fire at their house like six years ago."

"I wonder what he's doing back?"

"Didn't you pick up on it?"

"On what?"

"He's a werewolf. It's a very distinctive smell. Don't worry, it's nothing bad, just noticeable. I thought you had."

"I mean I thought I smelled something, but…"

"Okay, I really need to get you up to speed on all things wolfy. Or at least the things I can. Plus the full moon is tomorrow, so you may need to come over to my place. I can't help you control the wolf, but I can make sure you won't hurt anyone."

"Dude, can we talk about this later? I have to go to work."

I sigh. He isn't taking this as seriously as he needs to be. But I can't rush him through this either. I hand him my keys. "Fine. I have something I gotta take care of. I'll come pick this up on my way home. You're mom's picking you up from work right?"

"Yeah. What are you gonna do?"

"Nothing you have to worry about buddy. Just make sure to keep you head down. I'll talk to you later." He nods and then heads off to the jeep. But I turn and try and pick up Derek crunching through the underbrush. It's faint so I use his scent that is fading with the wind to follow him until I can hear him again. Staying quite in a forest isn't the easiest of feats, but I am not a Forest Kitsune for nothing. When I want to, I can go unnoticed. It has taken some intense practice, but snooping around dad's things has given me just that. I have yet to get caught red handed going through his stuff.

His trail leads back to a burned down house in a small clearing in the woods. This is the old Hale house. Many of my classmates have come out here in attempts of 'bravery' and just to vandalize the ruins. "I know you're out there, so you might as well come out."

Derek is standing on the front porch of the house staring off in my direction. He must be able to hear my heartbeat. I guess wolves have better hearing than I thought. Well, I guess there's no more use hiding in the shadows. "Didn't know wolves had such good hearing."

If he is surprised that I know about the existence of wolves he doesn't show it. "Well your friend is a wolf, shouldn't you have some firsthand experience?"

"No, he was only just turned last night. The Alpha that is out there is the one that bit him. I assume that is why you are back in town?" I try to keep my voice casual, but I am sure that I failed miserably.

"Yes and no." I wait for more, be he doesn't say anything.

"Okay? Then why are you here?"

"Why should I tell some scrawny kid?"

"Fair point, but since I know all about you, and my best friend just joined your little furry club, I think that I have a right to know why there has been a sudden appearance of werewolves in Beacon Hills. Scott is going to have to deal with this Alpha, which means that I am going to have to deal with this Alpha. Personally, I like to work with as much information as possible. Now, we can either work together or separate, but seeing as you are probably only a Beta, but more probably an Omega, you will need help to take care of this rouge Alpha. Assuming that is one of the reasons that you are here. Plus, Scott could use the help of a wolf to learn control. I can only help him so much, since my knowledge of wolves is sparse at best. Did I leave anything out?"

He raises his eye brows at me. There is a glare that is trying to come through, but it morphs along the way to something indecipherable. He waits a few more minutes having an internal debate with himself then finally relents. "Fine. Let's talk."

"Good, but not here. The Alpha could be around anywhere, and I for one don't want to run into him. You got a car?"

He waits another minute but then moves down the steps to the side of the house. I follow and see a sleek black Camaro parked there. Letting out a whistle, I can't help but appreciate his ride. "Of course you would drive this. It's like sex on wheels." He raises an eyebrow at me again, but then drops it as we get in the car. After I give him directions to the animal clinic we delve into silence. He isn't much of a talker, and while normally I would be all about filling the quite with my ramblings, something about this guy settles the normally restlessness that resides within me. It's probably just his calm and cool demeanor.

After we get to the clinic I get out and tell him I'll be right back. Then I make my way in to get my keys from Scott and I tell him to call me later. He nods and goes back to work. Getting back into my Jeep I motion for Derek to follow me and he does without so much as a wave in acknowledgement.

When we get back to my house I pull in the driveway and am thankful to see that dad isn't home yet. Derek is there just as I am getting the door open. I usher him into the living room. "Can I get you something to drink?" He doesn't say anything, just stands there. I roll my eyes and get two glasses of water, then come back and hand him one. He sets it on the table and sits only after I do. I can tell he doesn't want to beat around the bush so I just dive straight in. "Okay, so what I know is that the Alpha was in the woods last night and he killed someone. She was a wolf, he ripped her in half and separated the pieces. Then when Scott and I were foolishly looking for the other half of the body, we got separated. By the time I knew where they were, it was too late. Scott was bitten, so the best I could do was scare it off and hope that it wouldn't come back."

Derek is quite for a long time, and I think that he isn't going to say anything. But his face is showing different emotions than I thought he would be expressing. It's grief, guilt, and pain. "He killed Laura." It comes out low, and at first I don't know who it is he is talking about, but then I remember dad talking about the only survivors of the Hale fire were Derek, Laura, and their uncle Peter.

"Oh, Derek, I didn't know."

His face hardens and loses all the emotions that were just displayed there. If I hadn't seen them for myself, I would have sworn they never appeared. "How did you scare it off?" He looks like he doesn't believe that I am capable, which for all intent and purposes, I'm not.

And before I know it, I find myself telling him. A complete stranger. I am telling a stranger what I am. "I'm a Kitsune. I used some of my fox fire, I only managed to graze his leg, but that will stay with him for a little while. I know electricity is one of your guys' downfalls."

"You're a Fox Spirit?"

Tired of people not believing me, I let my aura slip through so he can see it. When it becomes visible, his posture changes from somewhat relaxed to tense all over. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you. I have no intention of attacking a possible ally. Scott needs your help, and you are going to need mine. Two Betas aren't a match for an Alpha. You know that, and I know that. We need to work together on this."

His shoulders stay somewhat tense, but the rest of him relaxes enough to slouch against the back of the couch he was sitting on. "I came here looking for my sister, Laura. She came back a few days ago looking for answers. A letter came in the mail a few weeks ago and it showed that there was some werewolf activity going on back here. Have you noticed anything?"

My cheeks flush a bit at the question. "No. I don't go out much. Dad likes me to keep things under wraps, so I don't get to go out in the preserve as often as I might otherwise like." He nods but says nothing about my lack of bonding with nature.

"She didn't check in two days ago so I decided to come here in search of her. But I was too late." He hunches in on himself, and I don't think he realized he is doing it.

I don't know what makes me do it, but I cross the room and rest a hand on his shoulder giving him some support. "How would you have known? This isn't your fault. But you can claim her body, my dad should be home in an hour or two, why don't you stay for now, and talk to him when he gets here?"

He almost flinches at the contact of my hand, but doesn't move away either. "I don't think that would be wise."

"No, I think it is. My dad is the Sherriff. You would have to talk to him anyway. Where are you staying?" He doesn't answer and looks sort of guilty. "You are not staying in that house are you?" The guilty looks stays, but then turns a glare in my direction. "Nope, not gonna happen. You're staying here tonight and then you can find a motel room or apartment tomorrow. I assume you are staying at least until this is taken care of, so you better get comfy buddy." He looks like he is about to argue, but then thinks- better of it. A wise decision on his part, but he still seems a little unsure. "Seriously. It's cool. You need a place to stay and this way you are protected. Plus there are Hunters in town."

"What?"

"Yeah, new girl joined our class today. Last name's Argent-" I don't get to say anything more because Derek lets loose one angry growl. "Calm down dude! No shredding the furniture with your wolfy claws. I know it's bad, but I think-"

"It is worse than bad." His eyes keep flashing from his normal hazel to a bright icy blue and his fangs are slowly creeping past his lips.

It takes all of two seconds for me to put the pieces together. "It was them." I'm not even sure that he heard me. That is until he manages to get himself under control and give me an assessing look. "They are the ones that burned your family."

"Not all of them. Just one."

"Okay. So this is really bad. They don't know you're back yet, right?" He shakes his head. Okay. My mind starts racing trying to put together a plan for the shit storm that is surely going to be coming our way. "Right. They only know about the wolfy activity that has been happening around here then, so you have to stay so far under the radar. So does Scott. They don't know about me, no one knows about me. So if we can take care of the Alpha then we can get rid of them."

"It's not going to be that easy."

"I know it won't be, but if we can try it out for now, maybe we can let this all take care of itself. I mean there is no point in showing our entire hand all at once, right?"

He crosses his arms over his chest in a very defensive manner. "How do I know that I can trust you? I don't even know your name."

"Oh, my, God! How rude of me!" I hold out my hand to him. "My name is Stiles. No, it's not my real name, and no I won't tell you what that name is. So it's Stiles, or Stilinski if you are one of the teachers that I loathe." He doesn't shake my hand but raises an eyebrow instead. I have a feeling that the more I communicate with this guy, the more he will use his eyebrows as expressions. Best start learning that language then. I pull my hand back and move to stand. "I guess I should get started on dinner then. How about lasagna? Full of carbs, some meat, that should fill you right up. I know you wolves tend to eat a bit more than normal."

The silence that emanates from Derek is terminal I swear. I rock back on my heels for a moment before moving off to the kitchen to start. After about five minutes he moves to sit at the kitchen table. He glances around the room taking note of all the exits, and when his eyes land on the basement door, he withdraws a bit. "Don't worry. That is for my protection. Dad and I set up a few years ago just in case some supernatural baddie decided to traipse through town. I was too young to do anything about it then, but now it is an added layer of security. The whole basement is lined in Mountain Ash, so nothing can get in."

"And nothing can get out." He looks a little green around the edges for a moment, but it is quickly replaced by what must be his permanent scowl. I don't know what is running through his head, but none of it seems pleasant.

Again we lapse into silence and it is only when my father pulls in the driveway that Derek tenses again. "Stiles, I'm home."

"In the kitchen dad, we have a guest."

"Did Scott finally decide to listen to you?" He walks into the room and stops in the doorway looking at Derek seated at the table with a hand on his holster. "Stiles, care to make introductions?"

"Dad, this is Derek Hale, Derek, this is my father, John Stilinski." My tone goes from cheery to somber quickly. "Dad, that girl in the woods, it was Laura Hale. Derek's sister. " Dad's grip on his piece tightens and I have to quickly move between the two of them to stop my dad from doing something stupid. "He is not the enemy. He is here to help us."

"And how do we know he's not the Alpha?"

"First off, because it was his own sister, secondly, their scents are different, third, his eyes are blue. Alphas have red eyes. Derek is a Beta."

Dad relaxes a bit and moves to sit across the table from Derek. "Sorry, just have to make sure that my son is safe."

"It's no problem sir. I understand."

"Oh, and dad. Derek is spending the night here tonight. He was trying to sleep in his old house. I won't let him."

"Stiles."

"No dad, there are Hunters in town. He isn't safe out there. Plus he can help train Scott in ways that I can't."

Dad's eyes narrow. "Hunters? How do you know?"

"New girl in school today. Her last name is Argent. Mom warned me about them. They are one of the most feared groups in the supernatural community. They mainly go after werewolves, but they aren't shy about taking out any kind of supernatural creature. Even the harmless ones."

"Son, you can't start making accusations-"

"It's true, sir. It was one of them that burned my family to the ground. I know that for a fact."

Dad seems to contemplate what he has heard. "I knew it was too easy. Never had the proof though."

"What are you talking about dad?"

"The fire. It was just before your mother died. The fire inspector said it was an electrical fire, but no electrical fire I've ever heard of could start that fast and burn that strong. You said you know who started it?" He looks at Derek with an intense gaze that says he is in detective mode.

"Yes. I know who started it."

"Well then, I may just have to reopen the case and start digging a little bit. But for now, I agree. You will stay here. If you are helping my son, the least I can do is offer you a warm bed."

Derek looks a bit flushed at the offer. "You really don't have to sir. I can find a place to stay."

"Nonsense. This way they won't know you're back, assuming they don't know already, and there is a -little extra protection for my son. He doesn't know how to keep himself out of trouble and I could use an extra set of eyes. If you really feel that badly about it you can pay for groceries and utilities. But I would feel a lot safer if you were here."

Derek just nods and I fist pump internally. I don't know why I was so open and insistent with Derek, but it has led to having an ally in this mess that has started. Now if only things can get back to peaceful.

…

The next day at lacrosse practice Scott is a little crazy. He pulls off moves that he couldn't have done three days ago. So I make sure he comes over after school so we can talk a bit without anyone over hearing us. Derek is out, he said that he had to make a few arrangements for his and Laura's things in New York, and that he would be back a little after us. "Scott, are you ready to take this seriously now?"

"Stiles, I can't think about this right now. I have to pick up Allison in an hour. We'll talk tomorrow." His shoulders lift and fall in an uncaring way, and then looks at me trying to give off a hint of finality.

"Tomorrow? What!?No!" I spaz out a bit. Fails and everything. "The full moon's tonight. Don't you get it?"

"What are you trying to do? I just made first line. I got a date with a girl who I can't believe wants to go out with me-"

"Yeah, who's from a family of Hunters, by the way!"

"-and everything in my life is somehow perfect. Why are you trying to ruin it?" He just kept talking like I hadn't even said anything. This is so typically Scott that it physically hurts to be his best friend right now. But that's the thing. He will hurt someone if I don't stop him.

"I'm trying to help. This is something you have to deal with now whether you like it or not. It isn't going to go away. It's not just about the moon. This will cause a physical change in you, and it will be when your bloodlust will be at its peak."

"Bloodlust." He says is petulantly.

"Yeah, your urge to kill. Is any of this sinking in yet?"

"Yeah, I'm already starting feel an urge to kill, Stiles."

"Scott, if you don't listen to me, you could seriously hurt someone. If you hurt anyone how would you feel after, when you realize what you have done? You can't go out tonight. You have got to cancel this date." I get up and move to get his phone out of his backpack.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm canceling the date."

"No, give it to me!" He starts to push me against the wall, but I twist out of his grasp and turn us around so he is the one against the wall. Then I raise a ball of lighting to hover over his face in a clear warning. It takes him a minute to calm down and when he finally realizes what he almost did he starts to apologize. "I'm sorry." I back away from him and let the fox fire dissipate. He looks somewhat shaken and starts to move towards his stuff and the door. "I've got to get and get ready for that party. I'm sorry."

It's half a lie. He is sorry for the way he reacted, but it wasn't enough to stop him outright. After I hear him leave the house I kick the chair I was sitting in and then turn with another ball ready to fire when Derek eases in through the window. "Are you okay?"

I let it dissipate for the second time and move to pick up the chair. "Yeah. He just won't listen to me. He's going with the Argent girl, and he's going on a full moon. We have to go. I can't let him hurt anyone."

"Are you going to be able to stop him?"

"I will do what I have to." He cocks his eyebrow at me in disbelief. "I will. I won't kill him, but I will subdue him long enough to lock his ass up in my basement. He has to learn that this is going to be with him for forever. It's a part of him now." His eyebrow rises again. "What?"

"Nothing, just didn't expect you to feel so strongly."

"We were born like this. It has been a part of our lives forever. He is new to this, but it's not going to change anytime soon. He needs to understand that. I know what it's like to come into new powers and not understand them. It's hard, but it can be done."

He nods, "Okay, let's go." I nod and grab a button up shirt on my way out. We get in Derek's car and head to the party.

…

When Scott starts to lose control, I have Derek take him and get him to the car while I handle Allison. "So Scotty isn't feeling well, he has to go home. Sorry." She is about to say something else, but I dodge out and make my way quickly to the car so that we can get him home.

It doesn't take long with the way Derek drives to get back to my house. Dad's home and I lead Derek, who is handling Scott, down to the basement and close the door from the inside. "Dad! Don't let us out until I say. Sorry for any noises that we make tonight. It's going to be a rough one."

"Be careful son."

Once I walk back down the stairs I see Derek sitting there talking with Scott, trying to get him to calm down and gain control. I try not to listen in too closely to what they are saying, but can't help but overhear him talking about anchors and focusing on something. He looks over at me and then tells Scott to dig his claws into his arm. Scott does it and he is able to shift back from what must be his Beta form. "I don't recommend using this every time, but pain can help. It keeps you human, just like anger and lust can make you shift into the wolf. You need to find an anchor and then you won't need to hurt yourself like that."

I can't help but wonder, "What's your anchor?"

"Anger." It is short but to the point. Makes sense that a guy with this many issues would use anger. "Family." It comes out quietly and I am sure that we were not meant to hear it, but fox hearing is better than a wolf's. I know that Derek has suffered through a lot, maybe by helping Scott he can get some of what he was missing back. I don't know what is going to come our way with the Alpha and the Hunters, but at least I'm not alone in trying to handle it.

Okay, so I have the next chapter written, and the one after that started. I have been putting this off for so long now that I felt I needed to post something. I hope that this will give me the drive to keep writing and not let me slack off any more. I know where I want the story to go, I have some great one-liners planned, and a few plot twists that I hope you won't see coming.

Thanks to all my continued supporters, Anywhere Place just went over 20,000 views, and I am both shocked and amazed that it has gotten that many. So thank you for your continuing support in my works.

And as always, please, please, please, leave me your feedback and comments. I love to hear what you guys have to say, good or bad(Mostly good!). It helps me come up with new ideas, and keeps my inspiration flowing. Plus I like to know that you guys like what I am putting out there. So please don't be afraid to tell me what you think!