Love is Like the Wind

Chapter 3

Stiles was averaging six hours of sleep per week. On the off chance he was able to sleep, it wasn’t restful and it was haunted by nightmares that sent his father running to his room. There were times he didn’t know whether or not he was dreaming. There were times when he would simply be somewhere he had no recollection of going to.

As he woke up, surrounded by leaves and trees, he pulled his limbs close to himself. He was cold. It was unspeakably cold outside. All he was wearing was a loose-fitting tee-shirt and some pajama pants. His cell phone was in his hand, but there wasn’t much battery life left. He wasn’t sure who to call. Should he call Scott and Derek who could track him by scent? Should he call his father, who would likely set the entire police force of Beacon Hills to the task of finding him? Should he try to find his way home on his own?

And the more important question faced him… was any of this actually real? Would he wake up to find himself in his bed at home?

He scrolled through his contacts and his fingers hit the first one he came to that might provide help.

“Hello?” the voice came on the other side.

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Derek scarcely moved from Stiles’ side. He wasn’t sure he could trust Stiles to be alone with John. He feared that if he left Stiles for too long, John might have a different Alpha come in to change him.

Stiles quickly picked up on the tension mounting between his father and his love. “Stop f-fighting,” he said one day as Derek wheeled him down the street.

“We’re not fighting,” Derek replied. “You have to speak to someone to fight with them.”

“You know wh-what I mean!”

Derek knelt beside Stiles. “Your father loves you. He’s trying to find a way to save your life. But you’ve told me and Scott that you don’t want the Bite. And I don’t want you to die either. Especially since I know that there’s a strong possibility the Bite will save your life.”

“No,” Stiles replied forcefully. “I don’t w-want it.”

Derek worked hard to suppress the tears that were forming in his eyes. He hoped and he truly prayed that Stiles would change his mind. He nodded. “Then I’ll respect your decision… but Stiles… I need to know why.”

“I c-can’t tell you yet,” Stiles replied.

Shaking his head, Derek whimpered, “That’s not good enough. I’ve stood by you… and I’ve trusted you implicitly for three years… and I’ve been defending your decision to your father… but I need to know why. Help me understand so I know why I’m making an enemy out of your father… why won’t you take the Bite?”

Stiles looked down, his eyes searching Derek’s. It hurt him to see his husband in so much pain, but he couldn’t tell Derek his reasoning just yet. “I w-will tell you,” Stiles promised. “Eventually.” Derek gripped Stiles’ sweatpants and silently cried into his lap. Stiles stroked his hair in an attempt to soothe him. It unnerved him to see Derek like this. He was always so calm and collected. He was the pillar on which Stiles knew he could lean, and so often had these past few years. “D-don’t cry, Derek…” Stiles begged. “Please…”

Derek wiped his eyes and stood up. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I just had a moment of weakness.”

“Not weak-weakness,” Stiles corrected. “Strength.”

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“I don’t know where I am,” Stiles whimpered. “I’m scared, Derek…”