THE HYBRID'S MATE, sterek [book 01] ✔

xxxiv. first shot at love

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐘𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃'𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺-𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳: 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦

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Day One

     BEING IN A COMA is strange. I can hear everything that is happening around me, but I can't move no matter how hard I try. My body is dying - I am dying - and everyone around me knows it. They're not ready to accept that fact, but I am. There is no way in hell that my Mate is going to want to be anywhere near me from the amount of pain I am causing him - and Derek as well. It's killing them both, but it will take longer for my other Mate to die from losing me due to him not being Marked.

     I love them both, but I am always going to love Derek more. He was my first real love - not just a silly little crush. He was there when I needed him, except for now, and I don't blame him for leaving. Blood comes first - especially if it's your remaining sister. Derek Hale. I can remember the first time I felt true love for that sourwolf. I was only human at that time, and Derek was unaware that we were Mates.

• FLASHBACK - One and a Half Years ago •

     "Why the hell are you even planning on attempting this?!" I all but screech at the idiotic, nonplussed Alpha in front of me. He barely even flinches as I stand mere inches away from him, anger radiating out of my every fibre. "You are the worst strategist ever, and you have no survival instinct by the looks of things! And now you want me to stand aside while you send my friends to almost certain death?! Hell no, Derek! There is no way-"

     "Stiles, shut up," Derek sighs, half glaring at me. Not a full one. That's different. "We have to do this. The Pack trespassed onto our Territory without invitation, and with malicious intent. We have to respond. There is no other way, and there is no way in hell I am letting a skinny, defenceless Human stumble around on a battle field to end up dead with a single hit."

     "Derek-"

     "Don't even start, McCall. He's not coming, and that's final."

• • •

     "Stupid Werewolves," I mutter, making my way through the woods. "Stupid Derek. Stupid Territories. Stupid Packs. Stupid everything! And then they think they can tell me to stay and I'll do it. I'm not a freaking Beta, Derek Hale. I am a Human, and Humans can't be forced into submission by an Alpha."

     "This is a stupid idea," Danny says, rolling his eyes. "Why did I let you drag me along with you?"

     "I'm manipulative and controlling."

     "Consider your manipulative limit reached. I'm going home."

     "Fine. I'm going to find our Pack and whoop their asses for believing they could leave me behind."

     "The last time you did this, you ended up in hospital. Don't forget, you're still recovering!"

     "Go home, Danny. I'll be fine."

     I ignore whatever Danny says and push forward, following the sounds of pained howls and snapping branches. I am determined to find them. I am not leaving them to fight alone. No way in heaven, hell, earth, or purgatory, and whatever else is out there. Limbo. Blah blah blah.

     The sound of Wolves howling is all that I can hear to begin with, but then my Human ears pick up the smaller sounds. There are footsteps and snarls and the sound of pained whimpers accompanying the howling, and it scares me like nothing else.

     It sends chills up my spine and makes my mouth go dry with fear. It's instinct to start crying, but I hold that at bay. I have to - crying isn't going to get me anywhere right now. They're all in trouble, and I have to do something about it. I have to. I can't leave them to die.

     The Wolf I love is where ever that fighting is happening, and so are my friends. I feel my heart start to pound faster with fear and that's eventually all I can hear. My pulse races like never before and I feel sick to my stomach, the pounding not exactly helping that fact.

     Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

     The sound of my pounding heart blocks everything else out and it's all I can focus on, my breathing becoming irregular and my vision starting to blur. Someone moves into my line of vision and all I can make out is their bright blue eyes. A whimper escapes my mouth and I stagger towards the blue-eyed person.

     "What are you doing?!" the blue-eyed person hisses, their eyes widening. "You shouldn't be out here! You're still healing and you could die out here! This is no place for a Human."

     I stare at the person. "Where is he, Peter?"

     "Stiles-"

     "Where is Derek?!"

     Peter's eyes fly wide and he falls to his knees, his mouth open in a silent gasp. I cry out and try to run from whatever hurt Peter. My foot catches on something and I fall to the ground, smashing my head on something hard and making my head scream in pain. I look up into a pair of golden eyes and that is the last thing I see before I pass out.

• • •

     I wake to the sound of hushed whimpers and whispers. Something is wrong. There has to be something wrong. They're whispering. I crack open one eye and then they both fly open. The entire Pack is standing around me, concerned looks on their faces, well, all except one. Derek's face is absolutely livid. That's no shock in any way, shape or form.

     "Hey, sourwolf," I tease, drawing all eyes to me. Even Derek looks relieved to see that I am alright. "Sorry about running off, but I am the one you can't control."

     Derek grumbles. "You almost died out there. If Peter hadn't recovered and killed that Werewolf, you wouldn't be being a sarcastic little shit right now."

     "Hey, Creepy Petey! Thanks for saving my life again!"

     Peter's laugh echoes through the loft. "How many times is that now?"

     I pause, thinking for a moment. "Almost ten."

     "You're one danger magnet, Stiles. There's no doubt about that."

• PRESENT TIME •

     It feels like it was so long ago when, in reality, it most certainly wasn't. It was only a year and a half ago. Time has flown, and so much has happened since then. Then again, there is so much that has not changed even considering that fact. Some people are still gone, and others are going. Whether they're dead or alive, they're gone from our lives. It's a morbid thought, but it is one hundred percent true.