#scott mccall is a bad friend

[arlos-warm-drpepper]

Rewatching this scene. Would love to point out that Derek is not only the one yelling Stiles name when he sees Stiles is about to put himself in danger, but he is also the one who starts walking back (closer to the giant fkn beast chasing them) to keep Stiles out of danger. Not Scott. Scott stays at the door like he doesn’t even care about Stiles at all. Sterek 4 life

[nephilimeq]

Teen Wolf and Lack of Character Development - Scott McCall

Incoming Rant: Re-watching the first season of TW I have realised why I never felt that Scott was The Hero of the story even if the writers did not stop hammering the idea that he was pure and perfect and always right. He never sacrifices himself. This is a classic of fiction, the hero will always be the one who makes the greatest sacrifices for the common good and for those they love, renouncing happiness, normality and even their own life. 

But Scott never does that. Even in the first season this is very clear. The first few episodes emphasise that playing lacrosse and dating Allison are things he wants, but are dangerous to himself and those around him. The narratively logical thing would be that, after a period of selfish refusal, he would realise that the right thing to do is to give up what he loves until he has better control of himself and his new powers, sacrificing his temporary happiness for the good of others.

Instead, the narrative rewards Scott with control gained through Deux Ex Machina and not hard work, he gets to date Allison and becomes a Lacrosse star without sacrifices and therefore doesn't grow or evolve at all. This keeps up for all 6 seasons. Meanwhile, everyone else around him is constantly sacrificing their safety, sanity and even life for the common good.  And ten years later in the movie nothing has changed. Scott’s still not the one performing the sacrifice, he's still not the hero yet. He gives nothing, but the narrative rewards him with true love. Meanwhile Derek gives his own life to save those he loves he is The Hero.

So. Yes. To all of this.

I have made a countless number of posts about Scott’s development. Specifically, his lack of development. The writers had every opportunity to make him a decent character -- and Posey could have performed it and done everything at least moderately well -- but instead, they caved into Jeff Davis’ whims.

There were other writers in the room who should have held Jeff accountable and written Scott as a proper hero: a hero who sacrifices his own selfish wants for the greater good.

They do not have the right to tell us not to like characters such as Stiles or Derek more because they were the ones who wrote those characters using the hero’s journey narrative that they very easily could have written for Scott...but they didn’t. When the creator of Teen Wolf speaks up against those fans, he has no one to blame but himself and the other writers, and to say anything to the contrary just makes him look like a hypocrite.

You cannot expect your audience to believe your main character is a hero when you do not give them faults to overcome and make them a better person.

They wrote Scott as never taking consequences for his own actions -- instead, they had everyone else suffer the consequences of his actions and had them clean up his mess and deal with the repercussions. (not going into detail here because I have already done so on many other posts)

But when you show characters such as Stiles and Derek dealing with complex emotional and physical traumas and then doing things to try and improve themselves, while also dealing with their own mistakes and growing from them...but then don’t hold your main character to the same standard, how can you be surprised when no one relates to them? The accountability for Scott’s lack of accountability can be traced right back to the writers’ room.

I genuinely could have liked Scott. In fact, when he was being sweet and helping his mom, I loved him! He had the potential to be a fantastic main character...but the writer’s neglected their responsibility as writers.

To put it simply: the writers suck.

The only reason the show lasted was because they had good cinematography, and they brought on some experienced older actors into the cast, and they had two natural talents on screen: Dylan O’Brien and Tyler Hoechlin.

That’s it.

[littlesarcasticdemon]

Okay so we all know the fics where stiles is kicked out of the pack or the ones where he kind of just becomes part of Derek’s pack after the torture incident really just Scott being a bad friend

Anyway just imagine how funny that shit looks from an outside view like imagine being his classmate and living like across the road from him just being confused why someone who was previously wanted for murder is practically living at the stilinski house or like a person who is known to be dead(Peter) one day just walking out of stiles house or like witnessing Erica Boyd and Isaac sticking to stiles and constantly like touching him at school or like one day this person like overhears one of the pack or Liam calling him mum or whatever

Like I feel like it would be so funny to read just the utter confusion and like I have got to find out what the fuck is happening of that

[wheredidhiseyebrowsgo]

Hi!

I was hoping you could help me find this Fic I have been looking for for literal months.

I remember it started with Stiles' dad in a hospital. Scott is a paramedic and is there before Stiles arrives. When he does, its with Derek and two kids in tow.

Scott and Stiles aren't talking anymore because when they were still in high school, Derek was their teacher or sub or something like that and started a relationship with Stiles. Stiles then started to get anonymous messages threatening to expose said relationship. Spoiler alert - it was Scott.

I am confident I remember pretty much everything except the name.

Anyways, have a magical day and thanks for your help!

Hi anon. @generouscandyearthquake and @anowlnamedpig and @queenofwands78 says it's this one!

After by paper_back_writer

(3/3 I 45,450 I Explicit I Sterek)

It’s been nine years since Stiles fled Beacon Hills. And now he’s back. And so is Derek Hale.

The teacher/student ten-years-later fic nobody asked for.

[thomas-the-goat-of-satan]

my favorite thing about season one Scott McCall is that he's sooo sixteen. like sure, he'll fetch you wolfsbane bullets even though you're kind of the biggest dick in the world, he'll protect you even though you've been hitting on his girlfriend and trying to blackmail him, he'll track you down and save you from hunters while he's in the middle of having crisis number 86. but!! before he does any of that, he Is going to bitch about it! he's gonna make a comment!! god I wish that he'd made more. I wish that he'd looked more people in the eyes and said, "maybe it actually Wouldn't be such a bad thing if you died." and the most tragic part of it all is that his bitchy sixteen year old moments are always overlooked because he just so happens to surround himself with people that would probably hunt others for sport if they could get away with it. he should've been So much worse.

[vmures]

Midnight Rain - Fic and Soundtrack

My giftee this year was the fabulous @mizzricki. I had a blast creating this and hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it. Happy Holidays! <3 <3 <3

Title: Midnight Rain Rating: Teen Warnings: no archive warnings apply Fandoms: Teen Wolf Category: m/m  Relationships: Stiles/Peter  Tags: Steter Secret Santa 2023, bad friend Scott, Stiles is pushed out of the pack, found family, background pairing Chris Argent/Derek Hale

Summary: Stiles knew in that moment that it was over. Scott would always be sunshine–would always want a world where things were clear-cut and easy. Villains wore black hats and good guys never killed. And Stiles, well, he’d always been the rain–the gray, pessimistic counterpoint to Scott’s unrelenting optimism. And after everything he’d survived, he knew he’d never see the world in anything other than shades of gray.   Read on ao3

[dropofbittersea]

Look, Derek is the worst. Everyone knows that. Their fearless leader is a total and complete failwolf.

Which means the rest of them? Are kind of the worst too. They’re a ramshackle, slap dashed, sorry excuse for a pack that’s about a half second away from getting one of them killed. And this is a problem, because Stiles would really like to survive high school. Thanks.

Still, nobody deserves what Derek has gone through. Nobody.

And it’s about time somebody told him that.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

devil don’t take a break - teen wolf - ch 10

On AO3

Derek's pretty sure he knows now how Stiles walked directly to him in the preserve. He knew Stiles was here at the bus lot without any need for scent or enhanced hearing. He knew blocks away. What he doesn't know is what to make of the new connection.

Derek and Stiles both try to figure out what is up with their new connection and Derek’s mouth gets him in trouble.

[bericas]

josé olivarez / yves olade (alt. version) / cab calloway / oscar romero

[stilesdemonbaby]

Too Much Of A Good Thing by GracieBirdie

Summary:

Stiles can't just leave Boyd and Erica chained up in a hunter's basement, and if the only person willing to listen to him when he asks for help is a formerly dead psychopath? Well, Stiles supposes he could do worse. But of course nothing in Stiles' life is ever just that simple...

Tags: Alpha Peter Hale, Peter's got a crush, Murder Husbands, Sort Of, Pre-Slash, The Alpha Pack, Alternate Season/Series 02

Published: 2019-09-23

Words: 14,343

Chapters: 1/1

Rating: M

[thedevilsfamiliar]

Just saw a Scott McCall post that left my eyes rolling outta my head

Gotta remind y’all of my hatred for his character and that it’s not in fact racism 😂 “hatred for Scott was racism” funny af, no he’s just a shitty character

Idc about Tyler posey tho

[nephilimeq]

Scott Was Never the Hero

Incoming Rant: Re-watching the first season of TW I have realised why I never felt that Scott was The Hero of the story even if the writers did not stop hammering the idea that he was pure and perfect and always right. He never sacrifices himself. This is a classic of fiction, the hero will always be the one who makes the greatest sacrifices for the common good and for those they love, renouncing happiness, normality and even their own life.

But Scott never does that. Even in the first season this is very clear. The first few episodes emphasise that playing lacrosse and dating Allison are things he wants, but are dangerous to himself and those around him. The narratively logical thing would be that, after a period of selfish refusal, he would realise that the right thing to do is to give up what he loves until he has better control of himself and his new powers, sacrificing his temporary happiness for the good of others.

Instead, the narrative rewards Scott with control gained through Deux Ex Machina and not hard work, he gets to date Allison and becomes a Lacrosse star without sacrifices and therefore doesn't grow or evolve at all. This keeps up for all 6 seasons. Meanwhile, everyone else around him is constantly sacrificing their safety, sanity and even life for the common good.

And ten years later in the movie nothing has changed. Scott’s still not the one performing the sacrifice, he's still not the hero yet. He gives nothing, but the narrative rewards him with true love. Meanwhile Derek gives his own life to save those he loves he is The Hero.

My reply to all of this?

Pretty much everyone else in Teen Wolf has been a hero in the show, and it has never been Scott.

We have so many other characters sacrifice and give up so much of themselves to Scott’s crusade, and to his illusion of power as a proverbial “True Alpha” (I throw up in the back of my throat just writing it), and we never see any of it acknowledged by anybody, let alone Scott.

As I have rewatched the series, it is glaringly obvious that Stiles is the true main character of the show. He is the one who pushes the narrative the most, he is the one who digs for the information when no one else will. He drove the entire narrative of finding out the truth about Derek’s past, about Malia’s past, about Kira’s past, and even about Theo (god, I hate his character, too).

Scott's actions throughout the years are completely performative and nearly always in his own self-interest. He coerces, guilts, and emotionally manipulates his "friends" throughout the show all in some perverse power play.

Derek, on the other hand, risks his life over and over again for not only his pack, but for Scott, too. Derek was willing to die for his pack, whereas Scott couldn’t even be inconvenienced by them getting kidnapped, assuming that they were already dead and not even wanting to go after them. Derek not only put his life on the line for his pack time and time again, but he also chose each one of them and gave them the option to say no to the bite. He made it appealing, yes...but he still gave them a choice. Scott never did.

Scott has never been the hero.

Ever.

[littlesarcasticdemon]

Okay so we all know post season three Scott wasn’t there for stiles (and in my opinion before but besides the point) so I binged season four again like a month ago and I just realised that somehow Scott’s dead beat dad was there for him more than scott in that season which is actually horrendous 😳

[forestwaterfalls]

the most stupid stunt the stiles stilinski teen wolf fanbase ever pulled was making people think scott was a bad friend. give me one example of him Ever dismissing any of his friends and no you can’t include moments of battle or him telling his Visibly Unwell friends to go home and rest. or when theo was manipulating him.

[handsofred]

Unpredictable

Reading on AO3

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: teen wolf - Fandom Relationship: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski Characters: Scott McCall (Teen Wolf), Stiles Stilinski, Jackson Whittemore, Lydia Martin, Allison Argent, Chris Argent, Peter Hale, Talia Hale, Cora Hale, Melissa McCall, Sheriff Stilinski (Teen Wolf), Isaac Lahey Additional Tags: Time Travel, Fix It, Bad Friend Scott McCall (Teen Wolf), Pack Beta Derek Hale, Everyone Is Alive, Redemption, BAMF Stiles Stilinski, Mates Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski, from Scott's point of view

Scott shakes his head as he stares towards Stiles. He doesn’t recognise the person in front of him anymore, doesn’t understand why he would lie so much and so hard. Donovan wasn’t the monster that Stiles was trying to make him out to be. He had listened to Theo’s accounts of what happened, had seen the scene for himself before sending Theo off home and it sounded and looked like it made so much more sense…after all, why would Donovan want to go after Stiles of all people.

He was nothing, a nobody.

Turning, Scott left Stiles standing there in the rain, the fat drops sliding down over his skin as he walked away, ignoring the shouts and begs that came from the teenager behind him.

It was Stiles’ fault.

Everything that had happened over the past few years, now that Scott thought about it, it all led back to Stiles. Every bad thing that has happened to him, every time he has gotten in to trouble, Stiles was right there by his side, guiding him through the motions which led to each downfall and scolding.

Afterall, it was Stiles’ fault that he had been bitten by Peter Hale in the first place. He had been the one to drag him out in to those woods that night, he had been the one who dragged him through the darkness and the trees until they came across Laura’s body. It was Stiles’ fault that Allison and so many others were dead now, cut down in their prime, stopped before they could live their lives to the fullest. He and Allison could’ve found so much happiness together, could’ve gone on to grow old together and have kids one day maybe.

It was all Stiles’ fault.

And now there has been another death, another unnecessary death at the hands of the person he had once called his brother. And Scott couldn’t deal with it anymore, he couldn’t deal with the human that had brought so much pain and misery to his life. As he moved through the street and back to his bike, his mind was full of things he could change before they landed on the one thing that he had remembered Deaton mentioning in passing. A way to go back and change things in the past. Deaton had mentioned that it was dangerous to cast, that time travel could be a fickle thing to play around with. He hadn’t had any good stories of people who have been known to meddle with the past but Scott didn’t care. He had decided on it by the time he started the engine up.

He would go back in time and stop Stiles.

Read on AO3

[sapphireginger]

Steter Week 2023

Day #3: Your Enemies Are My Enemies

Summary:

Stiles squeezed his mate’s hand to soothe the angered alpha and watched Scott puff out his chest in a pitiful attempt to be intimidating. “No.”

“NO?!” Scott growled. “What do you mean no? This isn’t negotiable. You're my pack!”

“Am I?” Stiles asked calmly.

Scott hesitated and nodded firmly. “Yes.”

Stiles shrugged one shoulder. “I love Peter and he loves me. I’m not leaving with you, and you can’t make me.”

“Wanna bet?!” Scott snarled.

Peter’s control was rock solid, airtight, never faltering. His presence alone was enough to drive fear into the hearts of most. It was always a turn on to see the alpha put people in their places.

@steterweek

Stiles was pissed. Here he was bleeding, and in immeasurable pain after saving the asses of his pack once again but did he get any thanks? Nope! He was recovering in the hospital and only three people had come to see him and not one of them was his alpha. That was the nail in the coffin for Stiles. He was done. He was so done with constantly putting his life on the line for people who couldn’t care less so long as they lived even if it meant Stiles was racking up hospital bills like crazy.

That was why as soon as he had been released from the hospital, Stiles vanished into the night. He took only the bare minimum with him. There was some grim humor in the fact that the night he left was the two year anniversary of his father’s death. He made sure to stop by the cemetery to say goodbye to his parents one last time. They wouldn’t want this life for him, and he knew he had to think of himself first now which he wasn’t good at, but Stiles was determined to change that. It hurt to think of his dad even two years later. Noah Graham Elias Stilinski was another casualty, another unnecessary death as a result of the pack’s ineptitude. Stiles had been too late to save his dad and carried the guilt with him every day.

As he stood and brushed off the dirt, Stiles made a promise to his parents that he would never let himself be taken for granted again. Once, when he was younger, Stiles had fallen for his best friend, had fallen for Scott but as time passed and his friend only sought out others, Stiles realized it was forever unrequited. He had only attempted to reveal his feelings once and Scott played it off as a sick joke. Stiles never tried again. Now, when he thought about it, Stiles was relieved as the person Scott now was, was not someone Stiles wanted to be with.

A werewolf wasn’t a turn off for Stiles but being a fucking asshole, whose head was always buried in pussy was. They’d had too many close calls because Scott was thinking with the wrong head. Some alpha he was, true or not.

Stiles shook away the dark thoughts and departed from the cemetery. He couldn't take his jeep with him, knowing it would be a dead giveaway. So, he used a little of his savings to get something he had always wanted. As he mounted his Ducati Corse, a sleek black model and his pride and joy, Stiles felt like he was finally taking control of his life.

The deep purr it let out when he started it, felt like power bleeding into Stiles’s veins. He revved the engine and then took off, blending perfectly with the inky shadows surrounding Beacon Hills. Only when the rearview mirrors showed the town sign did Stiles feel the weight on his chest release. There was still a long road ahead, but he was ready.

✶ 🩸 𖤓 🩸 ✶

Two Years Later:

Anchor of Selene Bookstore was a huge success with the people in the small town of Oelwein, Iowa. It was nearly two thousand miles from his former home and so small that everyone knew everyone. At his shop, Stiles finally was able to put his spark into play. Deaton had hated Stiles with a passion and with the druid whispering in his ear, Scott had refused to name Stiles his emissary even going so far as to restrict his use of magic. Granted, Stiles never truly stopped using it, just avoided doing so where the alpha could see. Plus, Stiles wasn’t a wolf and despite being the alpha’s beta he couldn’t be controlled like they could. He just let Scott believe he was as it was either that or the alpha would’ve assigned Deaton to supervise Stiles constantly which absolutely not.

Anyway, here in this small town, Stiles was thriving and most importantly, well Stiles had found someone or rather they had found him. There was a small werewolf pack in town and of course Stiles abided by proper protocol and formality. It was important that the spark declared himself to the alpha of the territory. The Hale pack was well known to those in the supernatural community and yet Stiles wasn’t afraid despite their reputation.

It seemed the alpha in particular found him amusing and his spirited demeanor pleasing. So, Stiles was often invited back to see the alpha. What started as a bit of barbed foreplay soon became a genuine respect and level of trust. It may have taken them nine months to reach such a place but that then led to where they are now, Stiles being courted for nearly three months. Speaking of—

“Hello, sparkling,” said the alpha as the door to the store chimed upon opening.

Stiles smiled. “Hello, alpha mine.”

The Hale Alpha, Peter Xavier Ignatius Hale, was a force to be reckoned with and no one got away with giving him anything less than the utmost respect. He was feared but a healthy amount of fear and no one went toe to toe with him, at least not until Stiles arrived and then people, especially the various pack members, loved watching their verbal sparring matches.

They had met more informally when Stiles opened his magic shop disguised as a bookstore. It had been a rough day for the spark. He had changed his number and had only given it to three people, Jackson Whittemore, Isaac Lahey and Allison Argent. Jackson was living in London while Allison and Isaac were living in France. It turned out they too could no longer remain in Beacon Hills and had in fact left barely a month after Stiles’s own departure.

It was sad that only three people chose to remain in contact with him. Everyone else had disowned him but really Stiles couldn’t care less. He was happy now, was being courted by the alpha and wasn’t being forced to hide who and what he was.

What Stiles didn’t know about Peter was that he was more than just an alpha. It was only upon their fifth date, during month five of courting that Stiles learned what else his possible mate was. Peter Hale was apparently a world renowned lawyer and businessman.

Of course, Stiles kept this information to himself, not wishing to reveal it to anyone, not even his friends but somehow, the one person Stiles never wanted to learn of his whereabouts, had found out. Scott McCall had been livid when his spark, and Stiles was his, had vanished. He had searched, forced his betas to search and even found a way to use his father’s contacts in the FBI. It was all for naught though as the spark had found a way to evade him.

Stiles had hoped that he would never see the alpha again and for almost a year during which he and Peter grew closer, that hope held fast. However, fate or something out there didn’t deign to give Stiles more than a single year with his soon to be mate before Scott tracked him down and brought his pack to confront Stiles.

Thankfully the wards sent Stiles a warning and he was able to alert his alpha. Peter joined him at the store and the two took up residence on the couch in the alcove facing the door. Not even an hour later, the McCall Pack shoved their way into the store, making Stiles’s magic hiss and his fingers vibrate with the need to protect. Only Peter’s fingers lacing with his own, halted his actions.

Scott McCall hadn’t changed much in the past nearly three years, but Stiles sure had. He had bulked up now that he could run whenever he wanted. He sported a lip piercing, a tongue piercing and more tattoos than a person could count and not all of them visible when he was wearing clothes.

He felt the alpha’s thumb rub soothing circles on the back of his hand and allowed himself to settle further into the wolf’s embrace. He was safe. He was home. Stiles wasn’t going anywhere.

Of course, the fool had never learned proper decorum. He had never listened to what the correct protocols and pertinent formalities were. No, he simply started in on reprimanding Stiles. Peter wasn’t impressed in the least but put on a sharp smile. “Alpha McCall. Well met. What brings you to my territory?”

Scott froze seemingly shocked that he was being interrupted. His jaw clenched as he flashed his eyes, another baby alpha mistake. Peter showed no outward reaction to the pup’s aggression.

Stiles smirked and flicked his tongue out to play with the metal loop in his lip. The McCall Alpha seemed to be expecting Stiles’s interjection, but the spark had no intention of coming to his aid ever again. It was humorous though to watch the realization filter in. Scott had never been able to hide his emotions or reactions from Stiles.

The entire thing set the foreign alpha on edge. He went for the kill, knowing only that Stiles was his and he wouldn’t leave without him. “Do you really think he wants you, Stiles? You’re of no use to him except for your magic. You can’t bear a child. That’s why I never took you seriously. You realize that as an alpha I’m expected to reproduce? Lydia can give me that, but you can’t. Also, we both know he’s paying for everything. You can see that right. He’s just a sugar daddy. He doesn’t love you, Stiles. He just wants your spark. He’ll pay for everything so long as you do what he wants with your magic.”

Stiles had moved on long ago from the feelings he had once harbored for the alpha but his words hurt nonetheless. Knowing that he wasn’t wanted because he couldn't bear children was painful to hear. If only Scott knew—Even more painful was the knowledge that the girl he thought he loved, though he never truly did, was now going to bear children for his ex-best friend, his ex-alpha. This was turning out to be a fucking terrible day.

Despite the hurt he felt, Stiles showed no outward emotion other than to glare at his former alpha from where remained curled up on the couch with Peter. “My relationship with Mr. Hale is of no concern to you. I haven’t seen you or spoken to you in nearly three years.”

Apparently, Scott now suffered from even more delusions if his next words were anything to go by. “You are my emissary and therefore you have to obey me! You did not have permission to leave the pack. You did not have permission to leave Beacon Hills and when we get back home, I’ll deal with you.”

Peter let out a growl at the audacity of Scott to think he would be leaving and taking Stiles with him.

Stiles squeezed his mate’s hand to soothe the angered alpha and watched Scott puff out his chest in a pitiful attempt to be intimidating. “No.”

“NO?!” Scott growled. “What do you mean no? This isn’t negotiable. You're my pack!”

“Am I?” Stiles asked calmly.

Scott hesitated and nodded firmly. “Yes.”

Stiles shrugged one shoulder. “I love Peter and he loves me. I’m not leaving with you, and you can’t make me.”

“Wanna bet?!” Scott snarled.

Peter’s control was rock solid, airtight, never faltering. His presence alone was enough to drive fear into the hearts of most. It was always a turn on to see the alpha put people in their places.

It seemed that Scott for all his stubbornness hadn’t forgotten that of the two of them Stiles was the one who wouldn’t be moved if he had made up his mind. “Fine!!” Scott ground out. “If he loves you so much then he has to prove it. He cannot give you any money for one month. We will stay in a hotel nearby and if he can prove that he loves you, I will give him permission to court you, but I will ultimately decide. Don’t push me, Stiles!”

Stiles looked at Peter who had a gleam in his eye before looking back at Scott with a deceptively sweet smile. “Okay, Scotty boy.”

✶ 🩸 𖤓 🩸 ✶

Scott left after warning the two that he would be watching. After the door to the shop closed, Stiles pressed his lips to the alpha’s and moaned softly. When they parted, they both sported smirks. Little did Scott know; Stiles had never been his emissary. Alan Deaton saw to that. Not to mention that less than four months ago, Stiles had been given the honor of the position as the Hale Pack Emissary. How else would he have gotten permission to ward the territory, though he had originally offered it as a gift of court to the alpha when the alpha offered to pay for it. That was a hard fought compromise for them.

All that being said, Stiles was taken and Peter? Well, Peter was the Alpha. Peter was his Alpha.

“I wish I could say I’m surprised but honestly I’m not.” Stiles sighed and rolled his eyes, nosing at the wolf’s head when said alpha nipped at his throat. “I’m sorry for Alpha Mc-Asshole.”

Peter pulled back and cupped his mate’s face with one hand while still lacing the fingers of the other together. “You have nothing to apologize for. He is not your alpha, and you owe him nothing.”

“He’ll try to take me away,” Stiles said.

The alpha snarled and pulled his mate close, his free hand coming to rest on Stiles’s stomach. The action, both possessive and protective, made Stiles’s heart flutter. Peter wouldn’t let anything happen to him. After all, Stiles’s enemies, and that’s exactly what Stiles viewed Scott as now, were Peter’s enemies. The spark knew without a doubt that if Scott showed his face again or came near Stiles again, Peter would unleash the full wrath of an alpha when his mate was threatened, especially when said mate was carrying the alpha heir.

“I love you, alpha mine.”

“And I you, sweet sparkling.” Peter kissed his mate, cradling the barely there swell of his mate’s stomach. “You and our pup.”

This was what Stiles had wanted when he left Beacon Hills. Though he hadn’t expected Peter Hale, the spark had found what his parents always wanted for him: a home, a partner, safety, a child, a family and happiness.