Note: Sorry for taking such a long time to update. Life has been hectic and I can barely find time to write anymore. Hopefully in a few weeks I will be able to post more regularly. Here's a short chapter. Enjoy :)

There's a loud and pained howl. The Alpha werewolves are running into the darkness of the woods. Stiles lets the gun slip out of his grip, his hands cold and trembling. His head is spinning and he feels like he is going to throw up.

Derek, Scott and Isaac are all staring at Stiles, eyes wide with surprise.

"What the hell Stiles? What the fuck are you doing here? And why do you have a gun?" Scott yells at him.

Stiles doesn't really register any of the things his best friend is saying to him. His mind is blank.

Derek moves to the collapsed body of the Alpha and helps Jackson get free from the fangs that were perforating his body.

The beta lets out a rough and pained growl when he is finally free. Jackson turns to his side and looks at Stiles.

"Are you okay?" Jackson asks, his voice giving away his fatigue.

Stiles looks back at him, finally coming back to sheer reality.

"Uh… Yea. I'm fine. Are YOU okay?" Stiles tries to get up, but he winces as he feels a sharp pain coming from the wound in his stomach.

"Yeah…" Jackson says.

"You didn't have to do that, you know… I don't need someone to…"

Jackson cuts in with a chuckle. "A simple 'thank you' would do it."

"Plus, I owed you one. Now we are even." Jackson can feel the wounds closing up.

"Not trying to interrupt or anything, but what are we going to do with the body?" Isaac asks.

They all look at the body lying next to them, motionless.

Then, Derek suddenly raises his arm and swiftly decapitates the head.

"Arghh. What the hell! A little warning next time!" Stiles says as he tries to cover his eyes belatedly.

"We need to burn the body." Derek says coldly. "Just to be safe."

The next day Stiles gets a call from Derek inviting him to a pack meeting. Stiles grins. Being finally let in the alpha werewolf business was a small victory in proving himself as much more than just the weak human of the pack.

Stiles is all dressed up and heads out the door to find Jackson leaning in his Porsche, waiting.

Jackson looks up and smiles.

"Hey Stiles." Jackson extends one arm holding a cup of coffee. "I got you some coffee…"

Stiles pauses for a second. He feels his heart beat a little faster, his cheeks getting warmer. He is utterly confused at his own reaction. Why was he getting flustered by the sight of Jackson Whittemore?

The beta started to get a little red. "I didn't know what you- I mean… You don't have to drink it if you don't want it.

"Um.. No, I love coffee. Thanks." Stiles closes the distance between them and reaches for the cup.

"Uh… so you came all the way here to give me coffee?" Stiles asked.

"I came here to give you a ride. You know. After what you did last night, I don't think it's very safe for you to be going anywhere alone."

"I can take care of myself. I don't need someone to protect me." Stiles says, his voice unwavering.

Jackson looks down apologetically. "I know you can. It's just that you can never be too careful."

Stiles stands silent, which makes Jackson fidget uneasily.

"And… and I don't want you to get hurt." Jackson whispers loud enough for Stiles to hear.

Stiles can't help but smile. For some reason Jackson was growing on him. It was probably because they were now pack. Yeah, it was definitely that. So he embraced Jackson in a hug and whispered, "I don't want you to get hurt either."

Both of them entered the car and headed to Derek's house, sharing a comfortable silence.