The Imperfect Imprint {Jakeward}

Chapter 29: Introductions

"Derek! When a hot wolf is telling me I'm adorable- you do not interrupt!" Stiles frowned. Paul had the biggest smile I had ever seen him wear on his face.

"Dude- that smile's gonna break your face," Embry laughed. Paul growled at him in warning.

"Oh lord... not another one," Stiles sighed dramatically.

"Another what?" He asked curiously.

"Another man that speaks in huffs and growls instead of words," Stiles rolled his eyes.

"Wow... he's known you five minutes and he already has you figured out," Seth laughed. Paul glared at him in response, but the rest of us were chuckling.

"Even the eyebrows!" Stiles scoffed, throwing his hands around. The flailing action seemed to suit him perfectly.

"Stop comparing me to the anger management pack member!" Derek barked. Paul's head snapped to him immediately, his temper boiling just under the surface.

"What did you just call me?" He growled, fist clenching.

"You do know that if our pack has an 'anger management member' it's you, right?" Stiles snickered. Paul was looking at him like a love sick puppy again.

"He's totally right," Scott agreed, laughing himself. Derek was glaring angrily at both of them.

"Some pack you are..." he grumbled venomously. Both boys stopped laughing immediately.

"Take it back," They said seriously. You could practically feel the undercurrent of tension.

"Why? Stiles is tripping all over himself over some basket case wolf because he's hot- he's not even acting like an emissary, and you aren't helping matters any- you're not supportive at all, and you clearly don't care," he gritted, his eyes dangerous.

"Dude! You're being a complete-," Scott was cut off there with a hand gesture from Stiles. The alpha werewolf's jaw remained clenched, eyes glowing red. I wasn't surprised to see his and Derek's tempers flare so easily... it's a wolf thing. They'll fit in great around here.

Stiles' light frown turned to a full on glare as he rose from the table threateningly. In that moment, he looked like a predator regarding his prey. Now I saw it, how this skinny human had survived in a wolf pack.

"Derek Hale! Just because you're jealous does not mean you can say things like that. We are pack and family. I love you more than anyone else- you know that. You're Der-bear and you always will be. Scott and I tease you because we love you and it's fun," he finished gravely, staring the alpha down. "Apologize."

Derek just glared harder at his emissary. Neither one was backing down. Scott looked completely unfazed, as if this happens all the time. Derek let out a low growl and flashed his red eyes, which didn't even make Stiles flinch.

"I'm- not- jealous," he huffed angrily. Ha! Total lie.

"Derek-," Stiles gritted through his teeth. "I don't need werewolf hearing to know you're lying. Apologize or I'm walking out that fucking door."

Panic flashed across Derek's features momentarily, and then he regained his composure and put on a neutral expression. He sighed deeply before begrudgingly stating, "I'm sorry. You're the only emissary I will ever want."

Scott and Stiles both smiled at him, nodding once and accepting his apology. Stiles sat back down, fleetingly touching the back of each of their necks. Subtle pack scenting. Usually it was the alpha to initiate that, but here he was... the guy behaved more like an alpha than the alphas did. He wasn't lying when he said he could handle himself.

"Apologies for the minor drama," Stiles coughed awkwardly. Embry just let out a low whistle.

"Sure we aren't dealing with three alphas?" Paul asked, eyebrows raised. He looked like he wanted to jump Stiles' bones right then and there. Edward snorted a laugh and I looked at him in question, but he just shook his head at me.

"Feels like it most days," Scott stated proudly, eyeing Stiles.

Stiles was looking at me, "told you." Was all he said, winking casually.

"You weren't lying," I agreed with a laugh. "Although there was no physical altercation, so I'm not sure it counts," I argued playfully.

"It counts," Derek stated with no emotion whatsoever. Stiles gave him a wide smile.

"So what did we miss while Paul was having his bitch fit?" Jared asked the pack.

Paul growled at him and punched him in the shoulder for good measure. Jared moved to punch him back before Sam stopped him with a look. He rolled his eyes but sat back, arms crossed angrily.

"The pack was telling us about Victoria and Edward's family and all the local drama," Stiles wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "I still find it crazy odd that you and Bella were together and then BAM, suddenly you're gay for Jake. And how she was in love with you and then BAM, she's with Larkin. Wild..." The 'bams' were accentuated with fists flying. "What did her dad think when he found out?" He wondered excitedly.

"He hasn't actually found out yet, but I can't wait to see the look on his face," I chuckled evilly.

"Is there any way we can help?" Derek asked Sam, obviously trying to get the conversation back on track.

"Honestly- I don't know how much more help we need. There are plenty of us with the Cullen's. But everytime she shows up, somehow she slips through our fingers again," he said in frustration. We all nodded along unconsciously.

"We've never come across a vamp we can't catch," Jared said.

"It's her gift," Edward said in realization. "Like my mind reading and Alice's seeing the future. Escaping is her gift. Survival," he continued in the same tone.

"Hold up- hold up! Seeing the future?! You know someone who can see the future?" Scott demanded.

"My sister," Edward nodded. "My brother can control emotions."

"Wicked," Stiles breathed in awe.

"She can't see our futures though," Paul added.

"Really?" Stiles asked, turning his attention to Paul- who looked like he might pass out from the attention. "Why's that?" He wondered.

"We're not entirely sure," Edward answered for him. "She can't see anyone's future that relates to the wolves. She hasn't been able to see mine since Jake imprinted. It's been driving her absolutely mad," he laughed.

"Oh god, I can only imagine. That would be like taking away Derek and Scott's wolfy powers. They'd be useless," Stiles joked, winking at his friends.

"She's definitely been feeling that way lately," Edward stated sadly. "Since Victoria is after Jake, she can't see what she's doing or what she's planning either."

"Poor thing... she sounds like she needs a girls day to get her mind off of things. Shopping would do the trick. It always works for Lydia," Stiles suggested with a small smile.

"She's going to adore you," Edward said to Stiles, a smirk on his face. Seriously.

"I'm going to meet her?" Stiles asked in surprise. Edward glanced at Paul briefly before answering.

"Oh undoubtedly," he said in a sure tone.

"Who's Lydia?" Paul asked Stiles, the jealousy barely concealed.

"A goddess," he breathed, "and my best friend."

"Hey!" Scott said, highly offended. Derek had the same look on his face.

"Okay- one of my best friends," he corrected.

"Much better," Derek and Scott said together.

It was clear that this trio is as close as brothers, I couldn't imagine that the rest of their pack would be any different. Their bonds seemed to be as strong as our own pack, and I decided they would fit in perfectly here. I already loved Stiles and Scott, and I had a feeling Derek would grow on us too. How couldn't he when Stiles clearly loved him?