Chasing The Sun Vol II: Citizen Soldier

Chapter 4: Domestic Wolves

Stiles bit his lip, and stared at the array of ingredients in front of him. The Whittemore kitchen staff flitted around Derek as they brought them dishes, and watched the two of them discreetly.

They were being watched, yet whenever Derek looked up, he found no eyes on him. It was unnerving.

Maybe sending the pack on excursion of hospitality training would help the younger wolves to learn how to be as discreet, as the help.

Shaking his head he turned back to Stiles, "What's wrong?" he asked warily.

"Nothing", he lied and then paused, as he then realised lying to a werewolf was pointless;

"Well Jax kindly offered his family kitchen. What with you know all this", he waved at the several ingredients, "But well, we did just invite Parrish and Danny and his sisters. That's five extra people and if Mel asks Adam her boyfriend, to come that's six additional people. The Stilinski dining table isn't big enough for you know eighteen people. Where in God's name are we gonna seat 18 people???" he balked staring at him with wide eyes.

Derek snorted, "Its like you don't trust me at all", he sighed.

"What?! No... I do trust you Der, you know I do Sourwolf", he whispered at the end weakly.

Derek smirked, "Good. So don't worry about a thing. I already told Peter, he's instructing the other's as we speak. And Jax, Danny and Parrish are already delivering coffee to the others as requested. So calm down", he murmured gently, "Besides I know you. We'll be here till tomorrow morning preparing everything. So those interviews you need to take, Jax is getting your laptop, you can take them while Jax and all of us oversee everything", pulling Stiles into his arms, he comforted, "You're not alone Stiles", he whispered, "I'm here. I'll always be there, I promise", he smiled softly and then stepped back.

The amusement and warm feelings emanating from the two Kitchen girls, and the two male chefs of the Whittemore household, proved they were being watched. Again.

Stiles cleared his throat, squeezing Derek around the waist. "I'll hold you to that", his reply muffled against his sweatshirt. Unconsciously echoing his earlier statement.

And then like a drill sergeant issued orders, thrusting a mixing bowl in his hands, "Right, first start beating the eggs", he pointed to three eggs, and moved on pulling ingredients towards himself conducting a symphony to whatever recipe was recorded in the deep recesses of his mind.

Derek shrugged, and began murdering the eggs into submission.

Even as he did what Stiles ordered, he wondered if it was true, what Stiles had said.

'There's no universe where I don't meet you'.

It had warmed the cockles of his heart.

What? He was a sentimental kind of guy.

But, the wolf had always recognised Stiles as someone to be wary of. And, That's not right, either. Humanity isn't a costume that the wolf wears to hide in plain sight, just as the wolf is not a mantle to be taken on and off at will. For Derek they aren't two sides opposing, or balancing, one another; it is all one. It's just him.

Dealing with Stiles was a lesson in patience, he always feels thirteen different things at once; it's confusing, and Derek could never predict what Stiles was going to do next.

Then again, it really was thanks to the nogitsune, both him and his wolf, as in his complete self realized he was hopelessly in love with Stiles.

And with Kate hovering somewhere in his peripheral, he knew death had come a-knocking, he may as well have one good thing before that particular crazy Argent incinerated everything again.