Those soulful brown eyes opened up to view a ceiling he had stared at for over half of his life. He took in all the familiar surroundings. The old scratchy sheets from his youth and countless band posters littered his walls. Everything was so heartbreakingly normal.
A harsh breath shuddered its way out of Scott's mouth, overwhelmed by this reality. They really did it. They had managed to send him back in time.
Today was the day his whole life changed. Everything would be different after tonight, just like they had planned. Stiles and Lydia had left no room for error when they made this decision to play the role of God.
His most trusted comrades, surviving tragedy after tragedy, held pieces of their souls together with the power of their bond and determination to not lose anyone else. Loyalty was an understatement.
He had learned the harsh lesson that he would do anything and everything to protect them, just like they would for him. That's what packs do. They fight for each other.
He was sent back for a reason, his mom, Liam, Isaac, and his mate were all dead. All three betas died protecting his mother. He hadn't been there when his pack was murdered. He was representing the McCall Pack, meeting with Alphas from around the country. But someone had planned the slaughter of his betas, and he was going to do what any apex predator does, hunt the people responsible.
Stiles, as their emissary, came up with this idea. He wasn't a natural druid like Dr. Deaton, but his magical knowledge had grown just as extensive over time. He came across powerful relics that allowed them to travel through time and correct what had gone so wrong.
Their plan was simple: send him back to correct the tragedies of the past. Scott had his reservations about the morality of the plan. Did he have the right to weave the looms of fate in his favor?
The doubt and the existential crisis would have to wait. He had to follow the plan and that meant getting to Stiles. He needed to leave right now.
Getting up, he almost fell face-first onto the ground as he realized that his limbs were shorter than he expected. A small smile grew on his face as he looked in the mirror. He had the chance to fix his mistakes. His glowing red eyes were proof of that. He would change everything for the better.
Getting into the Sheriff's house was so distressingly easy that he wondered how they had survived in their past lives. His heart stopped for a second when he saw his best friend lying in his bed, Completely unaware of the predator stalking its way into his home. This Stiles was laid untouched by the trauma that they had experienced in another life.
He needed his brother as much as he didn't want to involve him. He knew that he wouldn't be half the Alpha he was without Stiles. He needed him from a tactical standpoint as well. No one was as smart as Stiles.
He sighed before coming in through the window, placing a hand over Stiles' mouth before he woke him up.
As expected, the young man woke up with a scream that died down in Scotts' hand.
"Easy Bro, it's just me," Scott said with a smile as Stiles relaxed back into his bedsheets.
"Dude, what the fuck are you doing in my room?" Stiles asked.
"Nothing just decided to climb through the window," Scott answered jokingly.
Scott sat up straight and the mood suddenly shifted to serious. "Look man I need to tell you something, something unbelievably impossible.." His best friend, in return, stared back. The Scott Stiles knew was never so serious, so calm.
Scott told Stiles everything, how he was bitten, how they had fought many battles together. He told him about all the losses as well as the wins. How they both died and got resurrected again. What kind of Monsters were waiting for them in the future, how much pain will come, and finally how he traveled back in time.
"Your story sounds sufficiently terrifying. Please tell me this is for some weird creative writing assignment, because the alternative, that this is true, is gonna make me scream." Stiles said.
"But you're my best friend. Basically, my brother. and if you say all this stuff is going to happen or we're supposed to change it, then I'm with you." Stiles said with a sad smile, as a tear ran down his face. Scott slumped back in relief as Stiles hugged him tightly.
"Dude I'm sorry about your mom. It's like having a cavern open in your chest." Stiles said knowingly as he rubbed his back and it was all it took for Scott to finally break down. Doesn't matter in which timeline, his friend had always believed and trusted him.
The explosion of emotion overwhelmed him. For too long, he had held the hurt and the turmoil inside him. Never fully healing from all the pain, the loss, and the betrayal buried deep inside his heart.
There was always another fight, another victim to save, another pack member to guide. He was the True Alpha, the Gold standard. He couldn't falter nor crumble, not even for a second. But here in his brother's arms, he allows himself to crumble and break. He knew what was expected of him and gave his all without questioning, but this moment was just his.
"Thanks buddy, I needed that," Scott said with a small smile. Stiles was always there for him. He matured beside him and stood ready to fight along with him, even when Theo tried to drive them apart.
His wolf screamed in agony at the thought of their dead mate. Thinking about his death left Scott's heart shredded to pieces.
It hurts, even more knowing that Theo was with the Dread Doctors now. At this very moment, they were changing and molding him into the Chimera of Death. Bleeding anything human out of Theo.
Their operating table is full of misery. He would have to come face to face with a mate that could feel nothing, crave nothing but power. He craved to be the best, even if it meant killing his future mate.
But it couldn't even compare to the pain he felt when he lost Theo. When he felt their bond snap, it was so painful that it left him bare inside. No, he will save Theo and they will work on his twisted mind once more. He was prepared this time.
"Hey, I don't wanna ruin the moment, but my shirt is wet," Stiles said, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Hmm" Scott hummed as he let go of his friend.
"I have a present for you, from your future self," Scott said. He could see the excitement in Stiles' eyes, but it vanished the moment Scott's eyes turned scarlet and his hands shifted into claws.
"What are you doing?" Stiles asked as he inched away from him.
"Your future self has left a few memories for you so that you can help me more," Scott said as he got behind and placed his claws on Stiles' stiffened neck.
"It might sting a little, but please try not to move" And like that, he connected them as he pierced through the skin. He was careful to not damage the spine. He felt how the memories, future Stiles left, poured into the young man in front of him.
It wasn't much, just locations of the magic objects he used in the future, some basic knowledge on all important events plus His fighting style and weapons. Most of the memories were about survival.
He sighed as he let go of Stiles and waited for him to organize his thoughts and memories. What he didn't expect from his friend was to be punched two times straight in his face.
"What was that for?" Scott asked as he wiped the blood away, his nose already healed.
"The first one was for telling the entire story without even mentioning that I and Lydia were together. How could you forget something so important?" Yeah, there was some oversight.
"And the second?" He asked.
"Theo, I mean you are literally fucking the enemy, Scott. That guy killed you once" Scott sighed, it was the same discussion when he first started dating Theo. His entire pack was against it. They even sabotaged him and Theo numerous times.
"The guy killed so many of his own pack. How can you let a psycho like him into the pack?" Stiles continued.
"That's enough," Scott said calmly and yet sternly, but Stiles wasn't known for stopping when he once started his ranting.
"That sick bastard had even driven us apart for a little. I bet he is using you—" Stiles couldn't finish as Scott placed his claws on his neck and forced him against a wall.
"I said it's enough! He may have been an ass and done many terrible things, but Theo had paid his price. He stood by the side of his pack while he could have crossed the mountain ash barrier anytime " Scott growled out.
"You may not like him and that is fine with me. I'm not gonna force anyone to accept him, but what I can force is the respect and recognition that he earned for what he did for the pack. Are we clear on this?" Stiles stilled for a while before he nodded.
Scott had changed. His Scott wouldn't have laid a finger on him no matter what he did. He was always friendly and forgiving. This one was fierce, dominating even. He just wasn't sure if it was a good or a bad thing.
"If this is gonna work better than the last time, then everybody's mindset needs to change. There is no room for disrespect. Theo is my mate and a future pack member. Yes, you are smarter than most, and yes, most of the time you're right, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong." stated Scott.
He continues, "I'm the Alpha and at the end of the day, I'm going to be the one making the calls. So, you need to trust me and your packmates because the alternative gets us killed. Theo is more broken and messed up than you could know or ever understand. Please don't disrespect his journey or our bond. I love you both, but there is no room for doubt."
Stiles stared at the young man in front of him and was impressed. His figure hadn't changed, but his aura had. Scott looked like a capable man who was sure of what he did and that you wouldn't regret following him.
"You're right, I'm sorry," Stiles said after he thought he didn't have the right to question something that he hasn't lived through himself. On the other hand, this mindset was so unlike his usual self. Has his future self affected the way he saw things now?
"So, what now?" He asked. The memories he had gotten weren't pleasant. They were filled with violence, pain, murder, and death. There were of course plenty of happy memories, of him and the pack, him and Lydia, so the future wasn't completely bad either.
"That depends on if you actually want to hop on this ride again" Stiles stared at Scott like he had grown a second head. Was his friend for real? Did he really think that he wouldn't?
"Before you answer, I want you to really think about it. Your dad's involvement with everything. What you went through that you potentially still have to experience. Stiles it's not going to be easy and at times you're going to question if it's worth it." explained Scott. This was his crucible. His one got out of jail free card. But Stiles was never a runner in either timeline.
He thought that his friend had changed, but deep down he was still the same old Scott, always caring and protecting. Like hell, he will leave him alone in this mess.