Chapter Text
Nothing made sense anymore. Stiles had thought that Scott respected him, that Scott was his friend.
Stiles thought wrong.
So very wrong.
Stiles thinks about how he even found out and how he had wanted to refuse the information before him, but he had heard it with his own two ears. He had stood with his hand raised to knock on the door of Scott's bedroom where the pack was meeting for the night, he wasn't suppose to hear the conversation and yet he did. He let it sit for a moment before the information sunk in and he slowly stepped back leaving the McCall house the same silent way he came in.
Scott was using him.
It had started off as any normal day, Stiles had woken up with a roll out of his bed as the sunlight gently pushed its way through the curtains of his bedroom, his bare feet hitting the wooden floors with a loud thump, his arms raising into the air as he opened his mouth to yawn his spine cracking and popping as he bent backwards with the stretch. He moved to the bathroom with all the grace of a newborn calf stumbling over stumps that didn't exist his hand flailing out to the side to flick the switch on then squinting his eyes as the bright light of his bathroom came on. He blinked owlishly in the mirror his hair looked like a bird had found a home in it small tuffs of black hair sticking up widely in all directions. He chuckled as he reached for his toothbrush with a raised eyebrow at his own appearance and quickly went through the motions of brushing his teeth while trying to fix his hair.
It was not easy work.
After brushing his teeth and washing his face with cold water to finish the process of waking up he hurried off to his room. He found a pair of jeans tucked into a random drawer and pulled it free before shoving himself into it. He found one of his graphic tees on the floor, this one blue with the Batman symbol on the front. He raised it to his nose and took a sniff finding it didn't smell before throwing it on. He put on a pair of socks grabbing his bag to throw over his shoulder before grabbing his shoes to start putting them on as he moved down the stairs.
Another not easy task.
He hopped down the stairs on one foot his hip collided with the railing and he stumbled onto both feet at the bottom one of his shoes landing on the floor with a thud so loud he winced. He made quick work of putting on both shoes properly before entering the kitchen where his dad was standing with a mug of coffee and an empty plate in front of him the toaster heating up with a red glow. Stiles smiled.
"Hey dad! You're home?"
His dad chuckled the sound so familiar that it warmed Stiles from the inside out. Noah Stilinski looked up from where he was tossing a piece of toast onto the plate. Stiles watched his dad lather the toast with butter without looking at the toast once- a skill his dad learned from being the single parent to a hyperactive child- before his dad passed the plate to Stiles.
"Are you always that loud in the morning or is just because I'm here today?"
Stiles huffed and bit into his toast. Stiles loved his father's toast, he never made it too crunchy or too soft, it was the perfect amount of toasted with the perfect amount of butter. Stiles could never get the proportion of butter right or the amount of time to toast.
"Only on Wednesday's."
Stiles watched his dad throw his head back and laugh. Stiles shook his meds out the bottle his dad placed in front of him as he ate his toast letting the two small pills fall onto his hand, one for his ADHD and one for his anxiety.
"It's Friday kiddo."
Stiles grinned tossing back the meds before washing it down with his apple juice. He lifted the last piece of toast to his mouth and then placed the plate in the sink to clean it later. Stiles grabbed his car keys and then toss his dad the keys to the cruiser. Noah caught it with one hand as Stiles rushed out the house with a "bye Daddio!" and the slam of the door.
Stiles got into his jeep pulling himself up by the steering wheel and settling in easily before clipping on his seatbelt- his dad is the Sheriff and the last thing he wanted to do was get in trouble. He turned on Roscoe after a couple of tries his heart almost stopping at the way she sputtered the first two attempts. He breathed a sigh of relief as she turned on and he started his journey to school the radio playing a Rihanna song. He found what he considered his parking spot as he entered the parking lot and after parking he climbed out of the jeep his bag on his shoulder. He searched for the pack his eyes finding the Hale pack across the lot first.
Two years ago when they started freshmen year, Scott had been bitten by a rogue Alpha and he had refused to submit to Derek Hale, the Alpha of the Hale Pack after his family had been killed by a hunter. Beacon Hills had been split up with several neutral points when Scott had become a True Alpha, Stiles was still trying to figure out what that even meant because there was no record of one anywhere, but that's beside the point for the moment, the school was one of those neutral points. The Hales lived on the other side of Beacon Hills, but Stiles was friendly with all the members, he had to be. The Hale pack had a total of ten official members; Derek Hale- the Alpha, Peter Hale- Derek's now unhinged uncle, Cora Hale- Derek's little sister, Malia Tate- a were coyote fathered by Peter discovered late into their sophomore year so Derek's cousin, Erica Reyes- a girl who had epilepsy before the bite, Isaac Lahey- a domestic violence survivor, Vernon Boyd- a lonely boy with depression after his sister was killed, Jackson Whittemore- the adopted son of the town's lawyers, and a pair of twins by the names; Ethan and Aiden Steiner. The Hale pack was a relatively small pack, but they were family to each other and it was obvious. The McCall pack consisted of Scott McCall- the True Alpha, Lydia Martin- the resident banshee, Allison Argent- a hunter from the family that had killed the original Hale pack, Kira Yurimura- a kitsune, Liam Dunbar- an angry wolf who Scott had accidentally bitten, Theo Raeken- a Chimera and Stiles Stilinski- a spark, something he hadn't shared yet for reasons only he knew.
Stiles is brutally taken out of his thoughts as he's pushed against the side of his jeep hard his ribs squeezing together like they were trying to crush his lungs before the pressure is taken off. Stiles groaned his sides aching and he knew he'd be bruised.
This was the first sign his day was about to turn into a not so normal day.
Stiles gasps, the action causing a sharp pain through his chest and he turns towards Theo who had shoved him as Scott walked up with his arm thrown around Allison. Stiles scowled, pain and a bit of embarrassment at how breakable he was coursing through him.
"What the hell man? Human remember? God I think you broke a rib."
Stiles rubbed his hand against his side, a sharp cutting kind of pain flaring to life and Theo just smirked at him. Scott chuckled, Allison raised an eyebrow. It was Scott who said something.
"Don't be such a baby Stiles."
Stiles felt the anger burn hot, but he held it back with a grimace. Liam stormed over before Stiles could say anything and the boy frowned his eyes finding Stiles in the small pack circle. Liam pressed his hand against Stiles arm as if to hug him and his lips parted at the pain he took in from his friend. Liam's eyes shot to Stiles who shook his head and Liam growled staying close to Stiles to take his pain unnoticed. Neither of the two boys noticed the Hale Pack watching them, Jackson grinned as Stiles threw an arm over Liam who settled less angry against Stiles. The McCall Pack was complete as Kira and Lydia came over from Lydia's car.
"What are we standing around for? Shouldn't we be inside?"
Stiles shrugged at Lydia's proclamation, once upon a time he would have bent to her whims wanting to be in her good graces, but she was never going to appreciate Stiles as the friend he was trying to be to her. Now he knew better and besides he knew his place, had always known it.
"I like to be outdoors and late to classes we won't ever use after we graduate."
Lydia rolled her eyes and spun around on the balls of her feet her hair flicking violently smacking Stiles in the face as Lydia pulled Kira then Allison with her. Scott chuckled and Stiles raised an eyebrow.
"Let's go boys."
"It's early still."
Scott rolled his eyes.
"Jesus Stiles, let's get to class, it's our Junior year we should be doing better."
Theo pulled Scott away before Stiles could answer and Liam frowned at the tone of Scott's voice not liking the way he smelled the annoyance on the Alpha after Stiles had spoken.
"Why do you let him treat you like that?"
Stiles turned his head to look down at the shorter boy, he rubbed Liam's hair gently. Stiles gave the only member of the pack that he liked a gentle smile.
"Don't worry about it pup, he's harmless. Scott doesn't mean it besides he can't touch me."
Stiles gave him a wink and Liam wrinkled his nose. Stiles knew Liam didn't trust Scott.
"How do you know that?"
"He's my best friend."
The lie slid off his tongue effortlessly and Liam snorted raising an eyebrow at Stiles who only grinned cheekily.
"When was the last time he treated you like a friend, much less a best friend? Didn't you tell him something was weird with Theo? Didn't you tell him Allison was dangerous? He still let them both into the pack after that. He's never listened to you."
Liam moved to face Stiles his eyes flashing gold in his anger for someone he cared about.
"I smelled your hurt the moment I got here and he had been standing there knowing he could take some of your pain? Just think about it Stiles and don't think I didn't hear the skip in your heart when you called him your best friend."
Liam walked off leaving Stiles to lean against his Jeep by himself. Liam had taken almost all of his pain and Stiles was grateful as he scanned the parking lot. The Hale pack was watching him and he lifted a hand in a wave. Cora smiled, Erica winked, Isaac gave a small wave, the twins plus Boyd nodded, Malia grinned with too many teeth making Stiles snort and then his eyes found Jackson his heart breaking slightly at the sight of the other boy. They had been best friends once upon a time ago, Stiles had pushed him away after his mother died and the connection had withered like a flower without water in hot weather, it was still there it just hadn't been fed. Jackson raised an eyebrow at him and Stiles pressed his lips together his hand falling to his ribs which were just sore now thanks to Liam. Stiles missed his friend, a longing so deep it settled into his bones and Jackson? Well Jackson looked two seconds away from taking a step in his direction. Stiles wanted to wait to see what Jackson would do, but someone was calling his name and he turned his head to see Theo.
"What Theo?"
Theo shoved him against his Jeep by his shoulders Stiles felt his back throb as it collided with the handle of the door. He groaned, a small sound that he didn't think anyone heard, but he failed to notice the Hale Pack stand at attention, all eyes on him and Theo. Ethan had grabbed Aiden by the shoulders while Cora and Malia held Jackson by his arms. Stiles glared at Theo his fingers tingling with his magic.
"You think Scott needs you around, I'm going to get rid of you and soon."
"What the hell is your problem dude? I haven't even done anything to you."
"I know exactly what you are Stiles, a murderer. Scott doesn't know yet, but once he does, he'll get rid of you so fast your head will spin."
Stiles frowned.
"I didn't kill anyone."
"Donovan."
Stiles froze his eyes widened as he found Theo's who smirked at him. Stiles glared his fingers twitching so much he curled them into fists, he couldn't expose himself in front of Theo.
"That was self defense, he was going to-"
"Scott won't care, you know the rules Stiles."
"Scott didn't answer my call, what was I supposed to do?"
Theo shrugged with an evil grin.
"Maybe you should have thought about that before killing someone. Murderer."
Stiles grinned just as evil.
"You think you can get rid of me that easily Theo? You think no one will look for me? You're wrong, I'm more important than you think."
"Keep thinking that Stiles. Once you're gone, I'll help Scott take over Beacon Hills. There'll only be one pack here."
Before Stiles could say anything Theo walked away leaving Stiles' thoughts racing. Stiles felt his breath come in fast his chest tightened with a vengeance and he spun around opening the Jeep door to sit inside. The Hales. They were the target.
Fuck. Fuck. Not again. He wouldn't fail again. Not this time.
He shoved the key in the ignition and turned it just for Roscoe not to turn on, he tried again. Nothing then again, nothing again and he tried again, his hands shaking, his magic zipping under his skin.
"Come on Roscoe, please, please."
Another sign his day was falling off course.
She didn't start and Stiles in his frustration slammed his hands against the steering wheel before resting his elbows against it his hands going to his hair as the tears gathered in his eyes. He wanted to go home, he couldn't be here, he'll go to the pack night later, but he just wanted to be home right now. A knock on his window startled him and he looked up to see Ethan and Aiden in front of his hood, Isaac was at his window having been the one to knock. Stiles opened the door gently to not hit him.
"Pop the hood Stiles, the twins might be able to get her to turn on."
Stiles moved his hand to the button to open the hood and he watched as the twins immediately lifted it to look inside. He turned back to Isaac who had a soft look on his face.
"You okay?"
"Fine, I just want to go home."
Isaac huffed gently and climbed into the backseat of the Jeep. Isaac stretched out in the back his lanky form somehow contorting to fit.
"You just got here."
"Yeah well, now I don't want to be here."
Isaac hummed, he had heard what Theo said. They all did and he wanted to ask, but he didn't know how. When was Stiles in a position where he had to kill? Where was his Alpha at the time? Stiles had said that Scott hadn't answered his call, but Stiles is the only human of the pack so why wouldn't Scott answer? Isaac had questions and not enough time to ask them as he watched Stiles jump as Aiden shut the hood. Ethan came to the open door of the Jeep.
"Try it now."
Stiles turned the key and Roscoe started smoothly. Stiles blinked before turning his head towards Ethan then looking at Aiden.
"Thanks guys."
"Anytime."
They walked off and Isaac smiled at him as he got out of the car.
"You don't leave pack stranded, all you have to do to call. We've got you Stiles."
Then Isaac was off throwing an arm over Cora as she snuggled into his side, Malia was looking at him with a look that held meaning, but Stiles was too tired to think about it. He pulled out of the parking lot like he was being chased and once he got to his house he landed on the couch with a flop his ribs protesting the movement, his back burning in the spot where the handle of the Jeep had been digging into him.
Stiles stayed home.
It was as he stepped into the McCall house later that day for the pack night that Stiles realized why his day hadn't seemed normal. He had slowly made his way up the stairs, his footsteps light against the wood of the stairs. Scott's voice was drifting down the hallway.
"So when is the next auction? We have to find out so we can sign up Stiles."
Stiles had froze at the door his hand raised to knock his breathing stopping as he held his breath. He hoped he wasn't about to hear what he thought he was about to hear. He wanted to be wrong. Lydia's nails clicked against a keyboard and he knew they were Lydia's because she was the only member with nails long enough to click the keys that loud.
"I'm searching for one right now."
Theo chuckled darkly.
"I can't believe Stiles killed Donovan, didn't say anything about it to any of us expecting us to never find out."
Scott sighed and Stiles wasn't sure if Allison, Kira or Liam was here yet. Stiles stood there frozen.
"Yeah. This is why I have to do this, we don't kill, the best thing to do is send him to the auction and we can at least get something for him from the pack that buys him."
Did Scott know what happens to human pack members at those auctions? Did Scott understand what he was setting Stiles up for? Stiles slowly backed away from the door, betrayal hot in his veins and he quickly left the house. He spotted Liam walking up with Kira, he wondered vaguely if they knew he was going to be put up for auction like cattle and hadn't said anything to him. Stiles slammed his Jeep door shut and immediately drove down the street.
He made it to his house in just a few minutes his thoughts racing with frantic imagines of what could happen to him. No. He wasn't letting Scott sell him.
It was time to go back to where he belonged.
He quickly packed an overnight bag before running out to the Jeep again. He quickly texted his father and started the Jeep after tossing his phone onto the passenger seat his hands curling around the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white.
The auctions.
Stiles took a deep breath and turned onto the street he hadn't been on in years. He parked the car outside of his destination and sat there for a moment before pulling himself out of the Jeep. He walked up the stairs to the front door and before he lost his nerves he knocked on the door. He stood out there for a few minutes before the lock clicked, the sound loud in his head as the door swung open and he was met with green eyes he hadn't seen up close since he was eight. Stiles felt his eyes water and his heart slammed against his chest, the realization of just what Scott wanted to do to him hitting him from all angles. He had thought they were friends, not the best of friends, but friends regardless of what.
"Jax."
The nickname was whispered into the space between them and Jackson Whittemore softened, he looked behind Stiles then side to side before he caught a whiff of Stiles' scent; betrayal, hurt.
"What happened Mischief?"
Stiles broke, the tears falling and Jackson pulled his best friend into his arms. Stiles folded into Jackson easily and he let himself cry, let himself feel the betrayal of Scott because he was safe here, always safe with Jackson. Jackson gently ran a hand into his hair the way he knew calmed Stiles down and Jackson stepped back to shut the door without letting Stiles go. Jackson leaned against his house door and slid to the ground his hold on Stiles never breaking.
"Mischief talk to me, what happened? What can I do to help?"
Stiles felt the years of silence between them disappear like a weight lifted off of his chest, the silent loyalty they knew existed between them as they made eye contact across rooms over the years, the small head nods to make sure the other was okay without words. They hadn't spoken in years, not about them, not about anything special, but they didn't need to, Stiles knew and Jackson knew.
They always had each other. They were best friends no matter what side they were on.
"I'm sorry Jax. I'm sorry, he's going to sell me at an auction."
Stiles felt Jackson tense, his muscles pulling taut underneath Stiles' head as he lay on Jackson's shoulder. Stiles lifted his head to look up at him his eyes shining with tears and red rimmed, his cheeks tear stained. Jackson's eyes flashed beta blue.
"Who Stiles?"
"Scott."
Jackson growled and snatched his phone out of his pocket. Stiles watched as he unlocked the phone, found a contact and as it rung Jackson put the phone on speaker, all while holding Stiles with the other arm. On the second ring, the call was answered and Stiles shivered at the voice on the other end of the phone, a voice he hadn't heard in such a long time, a voice that meant protection was always nearby.
"Jackson, you're on speaker. Peter's here as well as Cora."
"We have a problem Alpha."
"Talk."
Jackson took a deep breath.
"Stiles just showed up at my house, crying. Scott wants to sell him to the auctions."
Stiles tilted his head at the growl that came from the phone. Maybe telling it this way wasn't the best thing, but Stiles didn't think he could say it himself again especially not to him.
"The pack auctions? The ones where packs send their pack members when they no longer want to deal with them?"
"I assume so."
"Bring him to the loft, I'll call the rest of the pack. This is a problem."
"Of course Alpha."
Jackson moved his thumb to hang up when the voice spoke again.
"Is he okay Jackson?"
"I've got him Alpha, I'll take care of him."
It wasn't an actual answer, but it was enough. The call ended without another word and Jackson let Stiles up, the two boys giving each other a smile as they stood up on their feet. Jackson tilted his head towards the door.
"Let's get to the loft. Do you need anything before we go? Water? Food?"
"I'm okay."
Jackson nodded and opened the door. The two making their way to the car and Stiles? Well Stiles was thinking of a life he thought he left behind and didn't deserve.
The life that connected him to the Hales.