The Run/Hunt

Chapter Seventeen

-Derek-
"I'll stay in another room until everything is sorted out. I don't want people to think I'm corrupting you."

I begged Stiles to say after he said that. I don't want to be apart from him, not during this time. When I spoke to Cora about it she just said that maybe Stiles needed some time to himself to process it all.

It's reasonable, sure, but I can't bear the thought that Stiles won't be there for me to hold and protect.

That's why I'm so bothered by the fact that I have to see Stiles so soon after him leaving our room. What if he gets angry at me and decides to reject me. What if he think this is is for the best? It would literally kill me if he were to do that.

Lydia knocks on his door and when he opens it, tears are steaming down his face. God, why does this have to hurt him so much?

I push between Lydia and Jackson to reach Stiles, pulling him into a tight hug without hesitation. "I'm so sorry Stiles," I whisper. "This was not how things were supposed to happen."

He hugs me back just as tightly. "It's okay," he says. "This was my choice. I just need some time."

I nod and kiss the side of his head. "God I love you so much."

"I love you too." He pulls back and wipes his tears, sniffling a little. "So, what are you all doing here?"

"We're here to fix this mess," Lydia says. "I'm going to do a DNA test!"

"I thought Deaton would be doing that," Stiles says, clearly confused.

"I don't trust him," I explain. "But I trust Lydia."

Stiles smiles at me. "Let's go grab my dad and do this!"

-Stiles-
I'm so nervous. What if the results come out as negative? If that were to happen I would leave and let Derek find someone good enough for him.

I haven't even started my lessons because Queen Talia refuses to accept that I might be the next King alongside Derek.

Lydia makes herself at home in the infirmary. Dad is going to get here soon, so she's going to grab my sample first.

She said that the results will come back later this evening. As long as we find out today, I don't care how long it will take. I need to know.

Dad arrives just as Lydia is swabbing my mouth, then she proceeds to swab his, immediately starting the process.

Dad and I just hug each other after that, for a while. This is what I've been missing. I really needed one of my dad's comforting hugs.

~~~

After dinner we all go back to the infirmary to check the results. I'm getting more and more nervous about what the test will say.

Derek grips my hand tightly while Lydia reads through the results so she can un-complicate things and put it into simple words for us.

"It'll be okay," Derek whispers into my ear. "I don't care whatever the results are."

"But what if they're negative?" I ask. "The queen will want you to reject me." 

"I'm not going to do that," he says. "Either she lives with this and we can ascend the throne, or I will renounce my title and leave the palace. I will never choose anything over you."

I tear up. He's willing to give up everything to stay with me, and here I was just thinking about giving up. I'm an awful mate, aren't I?

"Stop that," Derek growls. "You said all of that aloud Sti. Don't think like that. You were only doing what you thought was best for me. That shows you're a good mate. Alright?"

I nod and Derek lightly kisses me. It feel so nice to have someone there to keep my thoughts in order, to have someone that loves me so much. 

"Alright, I have the results," Lydia says. "Stiles? It says that John is definitely your father!"

I almost go deaf from the loud cheering that fills the room when she says that. Now we need to inform the queen.