Suffer Well (Sterek)

Pack

Derek wrapped his arms around the human, taking in his scent. Oh how he'd missed that scent.

"I'm so sorry," Derek said quietly into Stiles' hair.

"I wish I didn't feel this way about you," Stiles said back just as quietly.

"Why?" Derek asked pulling back to look at Stiles face.

"Cause I don't think I can be just your friend. It hurts too much," Stiles sighed dropping his eyes. He couldn't bear to see the look of disappointment on Derek's face. The guy had been hurt too much.

"Stiles, I don't..." Derek paused before pulling back, "I don't know how to be..." He paused once more, unsure of how to say what he was feeling.

"I know, Derek, and I would never demand something from you that you couldn't give. I just...I don't know that I can go back to the way things were, knowing you and I will never happen," Stiles pulled gently away from Derek's arm.

Derek's face fell. Why couldn't he have just kept his mouth shut? Why couldn't he just let things be the way they were? Instead he had to kiss Stiles and tell him how he felt. He should have known better.

"I should go," Stiles stepped back and towards the door.

Derek's stomach twisted. Stiles was leaving again, He couldn't let that happen.

"Stiles, please," Derek's words came out broken.

Stiles closed his eyes and turned away. It pained him to see Derek like this, because of him. But it would be too hard, for both of them. It was better this way.

Derek stood unable to go after Stiles. Why did he have to be so stupid. Why couldn't he give Stiles the chance he deserved?

Stiles made his way down the stairs slowly a single tear breaking free and sliding down his cheek.

Dominic looked up from the couch with a hopeful gaze that fell immediately upon seeing Stiles face.

"Stiles," Dominic spoke, his tone apologetic. He stood and pulled Stiles in.

He let Dominic hug him as the tears spilled over, "Why couldn't I love you instead?" Stiles cried quietly.

Dominic didn't respond. What could he possibly say?

-

It had been two weeks since Derek had seen Stiles. They hadn't spoken since that night. Derek stayed in his room most of the time. He barely even talked to his siblings. It was a particularly gloomy Friday and Derek's mood fit the weather. He didn't know why today was so much worse than the other days had been, perhaps it was just the weather. But no matter the reason, Derek wasn't doing well. He started the day by crying in the shower for a good twenty minutes. At breakfast he had a fight with Amora about Derek getting out of the house. At lunch Derek took a walk to the old Hale house and cried for another half hour, wishing his mother was there to tell him what to do. By dinner Derek found himself in front of Isaac and Scott's house. He wasn't sure how he ended up there. He'd just been walking, and his wolf caught the scent of Isaac.

He recalled the time his mother was teaching them about pack mentality. Packs members were drawn to each other especially biological pack members. Isaac was Derek's beta, it made sense that he was drawn to him.

Derek knocked on the door gently. He didn't know what he was doing, but he needed someone that wasn't one of his siblings. Someone he trusted. Isaac was the closest thing. He wasn't even sure how much he trusted him, but Stiles did and that would have to do.

Scott answered the door, looking slightly shocked and very confused to see Derek.

"Uh, hey man, what's up?" Scott asked.