Slightly Tempted (Slightly Series, Book Four, Teen Wolf)

CHAPTER TWO---117

We took Derek to Deaton. Scott carried teenage Derek inside next to Stiles, Lydia, Deaton and me, putting him on the table.

"Wow," Deaton said.

"Wow?" I repeated. "Wow, as in, 'I've seen this before and I know exactly what to do' kind of wow? 'Cause that's the kind of wow we were hoping for."

"I think you might be overestimating my abilities."

I held Derek's freezing hand. "He's cold. Really cold."

"Do you think this is permanent?" Scott asked as Deaton shined a light into Derek's eyes.

"I'm not sure a medical diagnosis is even adequate," Deaton admitted. "This is well beyond my experience."

"So what do we do with him?" Stiles asked.

"Until he wakes up? Probably not much. It might be best to leave him with me. He'll be safe here."

"You mean from Kate?" Lydia asked.

"If she's alive and she is what you say she is, she won't be able to walk past that gate."

"Why would she want to do this to him?"

"Knowing Kate, it's probably for a reason that won't be any good for anyone but her."

Stiles scoffed. "And bad for everyone else."

"You guys should probably go home," Deaton told us. "He doesn't look to be in any danger. So maybe the rest of you should get some sleep? It is a school night. And you all need to start taking care of your own lives again."

"Someone should stay with you," Scott said.

I was still holding Derek's hand as I looked up. "I'll stay. My grades are fine thanks to a genius tutor." I looked at Lydia, who smiled a little. "Despite missing a few classes."

Stiles shook his head. "I'm so not okay with this."

I looked at Stiles, AKA, my extremely protective yet annoying fraternal twin brother who didn't like the fact that I liked Derek and Derek liked me . . . and a little more than 'like'. "Guys, go."

"No," Stiles said.

I looked at Scott and Lydia for help.

"Text us if anything happens," Lydia told me.

"Nope, still not okay with it," Stiles said. Scott started to pull him toward the door, Lydia following them. "All right, just 'cause you're stronger . . ."

I smiled a little as Scott dragged Stiles out of the clinic. "Thank you, Scottie."

I sighed, looking down at young, teenage Derek.

I was really hoping he would be okay.

°

Next morning, I woke up in a clinic chair Deaton was checking his pulse. "How's he doing?"

"His heart rate is alarmingly high," Deaton answered.

I stood, walking up next to Deaton at the table, taking Derek's hand in mine. "He's a lot warmer now."

"Stacie, I'm going to try something," Deaton told me. "I want you to keep holding his hand, if that's okay."

I nodded, not letting him go.

Deaton took out a knife, slicing a long line into his arm.

And it immediately healed, stitching together before he even took the knife out of the wound.

"That looks like it healed really fast," I said.

"Unusually fast," Deaton agreed.

"What does it mean?"