Chapter Text
Those DAMN WITCHES! Stiles has no fucking clue what they’ve just done, but he’s now surrounded by trees only, and he’s certain that wherever he is right now, it’s nowhere near their camp. He knows that everyone is on edge, since they are all trying to find a solution to the hunter crisis, but sending him away because the discussion didn’t go anywhere isn’t cool. Everyone knows that the situation began because of Beacon Hills, and that’s why they are in this kind of situation, but did they have to take their anger out on him? Why did he become their guinea pig for strange spells? If they have to try new spells, they should practice on Scott; he’s the one who started this whole mess in the first place!!
Where the hell is he anyway?! All the trees look the same as the one in California. Did they send him to the south on his own?...
No way! They were in Canada, in a forest full of pine, how the hell did they suppose he would come back to camp? He can’t use his credit card because the hunter will trace him down, his Roscoe is in the camp…. He needs to text Lydia; she’ll send him enough money to travel... Where the hell is his phone anyway…. He taps on his jeans before finding the right pocket and starts to text, but of course, there are no bars… No Wi-Fi either, just great!
He throws both of his hands in the air before looking at the sky and sighing. What the hell is he supposed to do now? He hopes that the teleportation can bring him back, but he’s not so sure….
<Few hours beforehand.>
“So, what the Hell am I supposed to do?” Stiles rarely sees Scott shout like that. Everyone is blaming him for what happened. The supernatural world has been kept a secret for thousands of years, but in only one year, the supernatural world was revealed because of his bad judgment and leadership.
Scott wasn’t meant for this world. Stiles tried to stop him until the very end, but he was too late when that happened. Scott decided to let multiple enemies live, it only took one free dangerous fanatic, and the true alpha finally got what everyone else predicted would happen but worse, so much worse... Words spread around, and a war started. It’s only been six months, but everyone is on edge. All supernatural creatures decided to meet to find a solution to all the deaths currently happening; the hunters are too well organized and have abandoned all code, therefore, the supernatural world is losing considerably.
Stiles already saw too many deaths in those six months, people he knew and others he didn’t, but it doesn’t lessen the pain nor the problem. Especially when Scott still refuses to kill anyone. Stiles loves his best friend to death, but he can’t agree with what the ‘True Alpha’ is deciding.
He knows too well that it’s impossible to choose not to kill someone when you are in a life-or-death situation and you don’t have any supernatural power. Stiles couldn’t stay with his hand clean like Scott did, nor did Lydia, Kira, or even Allison.
Stiles killed once to survive and another time when he tried to save his Lydia. His fiancée has been targeted a lot since she’s considered an easy target, as a banshee, she doesn’t have any supernatural strength. But it doesn’t mean that she is defenseless, Lydia exploded once, her screams resonated through the air because of how many deaths she was predicting; she killed ten hunters in one go. Allison killed for the first time when hunters went to attack her and her father; she killed to protect, but she lost the boy she loved because of it. Isaac never came back from the ambush. And as for Kira, she killed in order to spare Scott from having blood on his hands. In the end, they all have in a way or another, all the wolves have blue eyes now. So, it’s no wonder that everyone is tired of Scott’s ‘righteousness’.
Lydia puts her hand on Stiles’ shoulders, and Stiles smiles sadly at her before hugging her sideways. She must be reading his gloomy expression. They’ve been together for four months only when Stiles already asked her to marry him. They both knew that with everything’s happening right now, it’s better to live to the fullest, and in Stiles’ mind, it has always been her and no one else that he saw marrying. They’re currently too young to yet, but surprisingly, when Stiles made his proposal, his strawberry blond goddess only smiled, her private smile before agreeing, saying: “One year to plan a wedding is perfect. Let’s get married in May.” With hope that the situation will resolve itself in a year, or they might have a shotgun wedding once they are both 18. Stiles is certain that Lydia will be bitter if they have to have a crappy wedding; he doesn’t want to make her unhappy or have any regrets. So even if he has to paint the world in blood for her to be free from worries, he will do it.
“We need to find a proper solution, Scott, and the one you are proposing isn’t one. If subjugating the hunters doesn’t work, we need to turn more supernatural. If the number of sups increases, then they’ll lose.” Stiles hates this idea, but it’s the only one that makes sense strategically speaking.
Scott growls at him, and his eyes turn scarlet. “You’re suggesting biting people without their consent!!!”
Stiles rolls his eyes. “It’s a last-ditch measure if we can’t recruit more people, but do you have a better plan? If everyone becomes supernatural, there won’t be a hunter and supernatural war.”
Lydia presses his shoulder before speaking. “We also have to think about the death rate from the bite. Not everyone can survive it. The idea is good, but let’s think about other alternatives first.” Stiles can always count on her; her sparkly eyes didn’t lose their spark even after everything that happened. She’s as beautiful as ever, even with the worry written all over her face.
Protecting people is hard, especially in times of war; they learned this the hard way. The hunter started targeting supernatural, but they soon targeted their family and friends. Everyone who helped a sup was a target, too. His dad almost died while on duty because he wanted to save a kid who was being hunted like game. The sheriff is utterly broken about the situation, and Stiles misses his dad, who decided to stay behind as law enforcement in their old town. He sent his son alone in advance and will join them in the near future, but Stiles can’t help but feel anxious about not having him next to him.
Last he heard about his dad, he was trying to protect Nathalie and Melissa by hiding them with other human family members, since they are still human, they are not a priority for the hunters, but they are still in danger, nonetheless. The sheriff is lucky because Stiles is human too; otherwise, he would have been hunted like Nathalie and Melissa.
Stiles’s worrying is cut short by the appearance of the Coven. It’s been one month since they all live together in this camp, but he’s still not sure as to why witches always move in groups like a bad replica of superheroes walking slowly towards the sunset. They also always glare at them like they are pests, which never stops Stiles from rolling his eyes at their theatrics.
“Children.” Says witch number 1. Stiles never bothered to learn their name since it’s a waste of time: they always talk to denigrate them after all. “Maybe you need to stop trying to make decisions, it’s after all one of your bad decision-making that started all of this.”
“It’s actually his decision-making.” Stiles points at his best friend, who is glaring at him while doing his ashamed puppy look. Yeah, it doesn’t work right now. Stiles is tired of it all. “But since you're oh so insightful, please tell us: What is your plan?” Witch number seven and thirteen glare at him, but he doesn’t care.
“How dare you talk like that when you’re the reason….” Witch number Seven is cut short by witch number one, who raises her hand at her ‘sister’.
Stiles can’t stop his scoffs. “If you want to blame someone, why don’t you blame the hunter, instead of us?” A crowd is starting to form around them, and he recognizes some faces: the Hales, the Argents, and Deaton. “Or better yet why don’t you blame your goddess from choosing a 16 years old to be a ‘True Alpha’ that stupid system where a werewolf who doesn’t kill become somewhat a leader of a whole pack -in a territory similar to a hell mouth because of how many psychopath are being attracted to it- That stupid system that can’t be allowed to happen in the supernatural world because if you don’t kill first, you’ll be killed.” He starts shouting in frustration. “That stupid system that chose a sixteen-year-old boy to be an Alpha even though he still blames and hates the fact that he became a werewolf!” Lydia is holding on to his arm to calm him down. “Or better yet, why don’t you blame the grief-stricken and completely insane Alpha who bit that said boy just like Scott does?”
He hears a snort on the side. “Oh, believe me, I’m blaming myself every day for choosing the wrong one.” Everyone from Beacon Hills glares at the snake-like man who’s always smirking like he won something. Stiles is partial to Peter, but he neither trusts him nor likes him in the slightest, and right now, Stiles wants something to punch so bad…. “It’s too bad that we can’t change all of our regrets.” Everyone freezes at the comment; they all look down, contemplating the thought. Peter’s eyes are always dead; he might be a snake, but even a real snake has more life in their eyes. And everyone in this camp is slowly starting to have the same gaze which says a lot about the number of people the wolf did lose to become like that…
“We agree, that’s why we need all the information you can give us on Beacon Hills and the baby Alpha actions.” Says witch number one.
“You agree with what?” That damn witch is always speaking in riddles and in the plural person.
“We can’t change our regrets, but we can try to make the past change them.”
Stiles frowns, “How exactly do you suppose we do that?”
“We have enough power to send one letter at a specific time in the past.” Everyone looks at the witch in surprise. Stiles notices that the Hales' attitudes are even more pronounced than usual. “And if that letter doesn’t work, we will just choose a date in the past to go back to without the lot of you, of course.”
“Wait, if you can time-travel, why don’t you do it to change the situation?” Allison asks everyone else who thought the same.
The witch rolls her eyes. “No human can exist in two places at the same time. If we go back in time, it will be at a time when none of us were born yet. Otherwise, the body will disintegrate if it already exists somewhere else. There is a reason why no human looks the same; there is always a difference. If we send someone in the past, that person will die in three seconds.” Everyone swallows their hopes down and sighs.
<…>
Stiles is tired; he’s been walking for one hour at least, and he’s thirsty. Why is it so damn hot in this forest anyway? It’s the middle of November, but Stiles is burning up with the sun, and he’s starting to feel dizzy and horrible because of it. Did those damn witches drug him? That’s actually the only logical explanation right now; he feels worse and worse every second. If he continues like that, he might collapse any second now.
He decides to support himself with the help of a tree and breathes a couple of times in order to try to dispel the dizziness that has taken over him. He’s starting to get seriously scared; he doesn’t know what’s happening to him, but he knows it’s nothing good at all.
“Are you lost?” Stiles jumps and fails at the sudden voices coming from behind. He turns in a rush and falls on his back. Right in front of him is a woman, around her thirty, with black hair, hazelnut eyes, and olive skin. If Stiles wasn’t completely freaking out at the prospect of meeting another person in those complicated times, he would have found her quite attractive, but the fact that he didn’t hear her is not a good sign. Did he meet a hunter without knowing? His heart is hammering, and he’s trying to find an escape route without typing the woman off.
He takes his most convincing awkward smiles and says. “Hello, yes, I am. Are you too?”
The woman cocks her head on one side. “You’re dying.” Stiles flinches at the convincing affirmation that the woman just spoke. “I’m usually not that blunt, but since you smell like multiple wolves, there is no use in being careful….”
Stiles slumps in relief. “You’re a wolf?” The woman flashes her red eyes, and Stiles slumps further. “Thanks, fuck, I thought I might have to run from hunters…. And as you can see, I can barely stand right now.” Stiles is still on the ground, trying to hold himself back from throwing up.
The woman frowns as her voice takes an alert tone. “Where is your pack? Are you fleeing hunters in our territory?”
Stiles frowns in confusion; that woman's pack still has its territory? That’s quite impressive, especially at this time. Their pack must have stayed clear of hunters’ suspicion somehow. “Actually, some witches did something to me, and I appeared in this forest for some reason. Am I far from Canada?”
She seems to slump in relief, and her look softens. “You won’t survive the travel back to your pack. I think those witches truly hated you… You smell like death right now.” She took an empathetic voice while saying that, but it doesn’t appease Stiles’ anxiety at all. What does she mean when she says he smells like death? Is he going to die just like that? Why? He didn’t even have the time to marry Lydia yet… He didn’t make the world a better place for her to live in, and he’s going to die just like that? Why couldn’t those damn witches wait for eight months at least? Why did they do that to him?
The woman approaches him slowly before sighing and lifting him from the ground while holding him like a princess. Stiles’s eyes are foggy, and his anxiety is spiking, but the absurdity of the situation is making him wake up from his dissociative state. “My brother’s best friend is a witch; maybe she can help. Just bear with it a little more and hold on tight.” Stiles puts his arm around the woman’s neck when she starts to sprint in some direction while holding him like he weighs nothing. If the news of his imminent death wasn’t so fresh, he might have found it incredibly hot.
Stiles might have passed out during the time he was transported by that Alpha because he’s now in a room with two other women and a man. The man is a mountain of muscle; he looks like an attractive bear, his eyes have so many colors it’s hard to explain. The two other women are as attractive as the Alpha. One is a redhead, she’s standing next to the bear-like man, while the other woman has black hair and green eyes and is holding her hand above him; she must be the witch. Does this pack recruit on looks only?
Stiles wants to ask what’s happening, but he can’t seem to gather the strength to speak just yet. The green-eyed woman’s hand lowers as she says sadly. “It’s not something supernatural. He’s dying from natural causes.”
“Natural cause?” His voice seems to come back to him because of the shock. “What do you mean 'natural'? Cause I was healthy one hour ago before they cast that spell on me.” He’s speaking weakly, but everyone seems to hear him.
“What kind of spell?”
Stiles looks at the windows, his emotions piling up. “Isn’t it too much? I knew I pissed people off, but still….” He scoffs at the whole ridicule of the situation. “Lydia is going to be so pissed… She’s been preparing our wedding diligently, we were both going to be 18 soon… Just a few more months, and I could marry the woman of my life.” He starts to laugh while tears start to well up in his eyes. “It’s all because of those damn hunters… If only Scott hadn’t spared Gerard Argent.” He hears a gasp, but he can’t seem to look for the source of it. He keeps thinking about Scott, his best friend, who should have realized that Gerard wasn’t Chris. That damn sociopath… Stiles should have killed him and Kate, too, before dying… Lydia won’t be safe until they both disappear; he’s leaving her alone just because he’s dying? Fuck no!!!
He looks at the Alpha and says. “Please give me the bite.” The woman opens her mouth, but Stiles tears start to fall, he needs to plead for his life, and the bite is his last and only way of staying alive. “Please, I don’t want to die like this, without saving her at least. I know the risk of the bite, but I’ll die if I don’t ask, it won’t be your responsibility if I die from it….”
“Kid.” The bear-like man says. “Do you even know what you are asking for, right now?”
Stiles frowns, of course, he does; all his friends received the bite after all. “My best friends and all our friends were bitten in the span of 3 months.” The bear frowns. “I know what I’m asking for. It’s either that or death. Who in their right mind will choose death?”
The green-eyed woman snorts. “It’s not about turning, but the fact that you already have a pack and Alpha. If our Alpha bites you, we will be in trouble.”
“Why the hell would you be? Scott wouldn’t give a shit about that if he knew why I received it.” When the woman looks rather puzzled and, for some reason, sad about his answer, he says. “He forgives everyone, it’s one of his biggest flaws.” Since it’s the reason they are all fighting for their life right now.
The redhead is the next to talk. “You don’t seem to have the Alpha bond?”
“The what now?” Fuck he wants to puke again… Maybe he needs to stop talking now…
The Alpha speaks next. “If I bite you, a bond will be created….” Ah, the things crazy Peter tried to use to control Scott….
Stiles shivers at the prospect and looks at the Alpha in fear. “You’re not going to ask me to kill an innocent for you, using the bond, right?”
Red eyes blink at him. “Why would I ask that of you?”
“The dude that bit Scott tried to do that…” The alpha seems to show anger, so Stiles sighs and thinks that since he survived a Nogitsune, he might survive an Alpha mind-controlling bond. It’s okay, he can do this. “I just don’t want to die, so please. I won’t take Scott as my Alpha; he was never mine to begin with, he’s my brother, not my Alpha. If you’re worried that I’ll run back to him, I can assure you it won’t happen.” He’s completely breathless at the end of the sentence, his heart is starting to beat out of his chest, his eyes become blurry, and he’s starting to sweat badly. “I don’t…” He tries to take a deep breath, but it doesn’t do anything. “I don’t feel so good…” He then promptly passes out with fear propagating in every corner of his being.