Chapter Text
Getting into Beacon Hills after days and days of driving the camaro was almost automatic, booking a week in the nearest hotel was normal, and sleeping that night a bit uncomfortable thanks to the strong smell of detergent and other old fluids in the linen, but it wasn't too bad. Now Waking the day after and going to the nearest diner to get some food into his stomach and watching so many people who seemed familiar to him, but thanks to all the gods none of them recognized him was another level he didn't knew if he could handle, and if after seeing the nurse that may or may not have delivered Cora, Melissa? he chose to ask everything to go and eat in his camaro, well no one could blame him or accuse him.
After finishing all the food he drove to the cemetery, it's been years since he’s been there, the last time was at his father's funeral, then they left the city no vever be seen again. After parking in front of the large burial ground he slowly walked past the tombstones till his family place, when stood in front of his fathers grave he remembered he forgot the flowers. -I didn't bring flowers… i forgot- he talked as if his father could still hear him, he thought that if he could he’d be ashamed and disappointed that his son never once after his death came visit him, but he couldn't, the sole thought of coming to this city before meeting Stiles seemed like living hell, he came still in fear, but less than what he felt leaving this place at fifteen, he was alive ad the price for that was his father’s life, he was grateful for it, as thanks to him he lived enough to get to see stiles, get to know him.
-I know that i haven't been here in a long… no i never been here past your funeral… i don't know if im sorry enough to ask for forgiveness if i even deserve that forgiveness father, but i came, i came to this town to one of my greatest fears and sorrows, and i did it for a man, it may be stupid but i think i'm in debt with him, i would probably never come here if it wasn't for him, thanks to him i've been opening up, facing all that i’ve feed and i'm loving, so father… no i mean dad if your spirit it out there please guide me to him, after all even human you had the heart of a wolf till the end.- By the end of the speech morning had stretched into the afternoon and light tears fell into the grave he was in front of.
He left the burial grounds with hope of finding him. At the exit a tall young man with blue eyes and light brown curls looked at him as if asking why he was here.
-Derek Hale- the man called as if he didnt believe it.
-Yes- was his response even though it wasn't a question, if he would face the fire here he'd better do it with his head held high.
He didn't stop, he kept walking till he found his camaro in the parking lot. The next stop was the preserve.
He drove for half an hour to the entrance of his old house, the haunted hale mansion. He left his car behind as it was the last trail of road. a light backpack with some snacks and water for the way. -Father guided me- he pleaded into the woods.
The first few miles where hard, he remembered all he and his sisters and his crazy uncle played around this lairs, the childhood lived here, but he also remembered the fire, hazing and consuming all, the charred still held the dark of the blazing fire that took place that day, a haunted place that by the smell of it no even hooligans dare to play around it it creaked ominously with the wind, as he left the scent of the burnt wood and the memorie of it the path seemed lighter at least emotionally, on the other side he didn't know where he was going, he knew he was looking for a tree, an unusual one deep in the forest, he truly hoped to be guided.
After hours of walking looking for the tree the night came, and he decided to just sleep on the bare floor and snack on some sandwiches and water as for dinner, he fell asleep in the nearest bundle of soft leafs he found, im his dream he saw a blue spirit like wolf, bigger than him in his human form the wolf was looking at the moon and when Derek tried to approach him the wolf tilted his head, watching his movement, “closer” the wolf seemed to whisper in his mind “closer” till he was mere inches apart beside him, the wolf then looked at the moon … a full moon he hadn't noticed, he watched too, trying to see what the wolf was seeing. The wolf perked his ears as he noticed something in the distance. “West” was the next whisper to his mind before the wolf sprinted in that direction as if following where the moon was headed a slight trail of blue light was left behind, Derek launched himself after it following the trail of light, as Derek was running out of breath the wolf stopped still looking in front of him “west” the wolf said again his snout pointing the direction. -Thank you father- the wolf seemed to lighten up at being recognized “You will always be my beloved son Derek” it was spoken softly into his mind. The last whisper before the wolf just disappeared.
When Derek woke up sweating and with a weight he had carried for years no longer on his back he was still in the middle of the woods the night still hung, the moon full and at his highest place in the sky, as his father told him he went west, all the sleepiness gone after the clue to find him, his Stiles, he trailed to the west and by the time he was exhausted the sun had already started to rise, he looked and it was there.
It was there just some meters away he knew it was this tree, the energy emanating from him, the flora surrounding his grounds and how all the other trees seemed to be away, respecting the space of this sacred tree, away from all eyes and all ear, just available for those willing to search and exhaust themselves looking for it. He had listened to stories of this king of tree, a nemeton, with roots so deep it reached the underworld and leaves so high it reaches the heaven, the element of balance, attracting all supernatural, and giving the rest safety to those in need, thee it laid as if never gone, just waiting…
Derek slowly walked towards it, admiring all the strange flowers that seemed to bloom under it’s grace, as he neared closer and closer he extend his hand to touch the bark, the light hum of pure energy coursing through every place he could only think if his beloved has here, if under it laid his remains, he kept the hand in the bark as he walked slowly around it, till he touched something with his foot… he looked down there in perfect state like he was just sleep or in on some kind of time stopping device laid there, Stiles Stilinski, blue plaid skirt boots and wrist cut, the blood seemed fresh as if just happened today, the tree had kept him safe and under a spell. But now that he was seeing him Derek didn't know what to do, what he should know, how he could explain anyone in Beacon Hills, how he could explain to his father the sheriff his son was in eternal sleep, never decaying, never alive.
-I may be too selfish but if you kept him like this give him back to me, i lead him to me now you can't take him away, not forever…- he started shedding tear -Please give him back to me-
The tree sentient heard the plead of a wolf, a wolf suffering from love, a wolf from his land, how can it not hear him..
“Are you willing to pay the price?” the tree hummed.
-Yes, I am.- he said.
“Then bear your burden… you’ll be tied to this land years to come, and your children will be too, may your love produce refuge for those who come for me seeking to be guarded”
-I’ll accept all the responsibility, all the blame, all the burden… give him back-
“Alright young wolf.”
Time stopped the trees didn't move anymore, the birds just floated in place a bubble where his beloved started restoring, the blood dried, the wounds closed, the color returned to his pale face, the life returned to him, and as the golden boy the one destined to run with the wolves opened his eyes life went back to normal, movement restored, balance was restored, the price was paid, Stiles Stilinski was alive…
-Sooo, how will we explain this to my dad, sourwolf?-