The Imperfect Imprint {Jakeward}

Chapter 29: Introductions

"You've got that right," Edward snorted.

"You know, I've decided I like you," Stiles grinned, pointing a finger at my mate. "Anyone who teases Derek is a friend of mine."

"I like you too. Your mind... it's a- very interesting place," he mused.

"You ain't seen nothing yet," Stiles winked.

"Oh god, I don't envy you. I wouldn't touch Stiles' mind with a ten foot pole," Scott scrunched up his nose.

"I have a feeling you read his thoughts more often than you think," Edward said. "Your relationship reminds me of the pack. Like brothers."

"Brothers," Scott and Stiles agreed, grinning at each other fondly.

The table grew silent, everyone stealing glances at Stiles who was obviously lost in his thoughts. His body had gone ridged and tense and his fingers started to drum on the table absentmindedly. He jumped a little before looking to Derek. They seemed to be having a silent conversation, and that went with years of being close to someone. Stiles eyes wandered to Edward, who was already watching him- and I had a feeling reading his mind.

"They will be back in... 5 minutes," Edward directed at Stiles.

He nodded and relaxed a little more. Derek slid his arm across the back of his chair, his fingers dangling onto Stiles' shoulder and drawing lazy patterns. The touch of his alpha seemed to calm him a little more, but he still looked a little anxious. I had no doubt he was back to worrying about Paul. I understood. It was the way I felt when Edward wasn't with me.

"So why were you guys chasing a vampire earlier?" Scott asked, breaking the slightly awkward silence.

I tuned out as Sam and the rest of the pack filled the three newcomers in on all of the Victoria drama. My arm was across Edward's shoulders, my hand dipped under his shirt where I could rub small circles across his silky skin. He stole small kiss in between listening to the thoughts in the room and adding to the Victoria stuff. A few minutes later our heads snapped to the door, hearing Paul and Jared approaching the house.

"I heard that," Edward murmured, and I knew he must be answering the thought of one of the approaching wolves.

"No one else did," Jared quipped.

Paul was doing his best to look uncaring as his eyes searched the room for Stiles as soon as he made it inside. His nose sniffed the air discreetly, and you could visibly see it when he caught a whiff of his imprint.

He studied the state of the alphas around his imprint, noting Derek's arm across his shoulders. I was surprised when instead of starting to growl again, he swallowed and put on his best smile. His eyes met Stiles and then he was staring. Awkwardly.

Edward saved the day by saying, "Paul, this is Stiles, Scott and Derek." Aw, come on! You couldn't have let him suffer a little more? I was enjoying that, I thought. Edward thumped me in the side gently and rolled his eyes.

"Nice to meet you," Paul responded, but his eyes stayed on Stiles. Which seemed to be okay, because he was grinning back and staring just as much.

"Oh god- even his voice is sexy," the doe-eyed boy murmured absently. Scott elbowed his friend, making Stiles yelp and snap, "what?!"

"Thinking out loud," he sang through his polite smile. Stiles flushed a deep red at his words.

"I'm such an idiot," he groaned, a hand covering his face now. Derek was frowning. That dude has it bad for Stiles. Why the hell aren't they together?

"An adorable idiot," Paul smirked. Stiles was blushing and staring at him again, and Derek decided to interrupt the moment.

"Can we move on?" He asked the room a bit grouchily.