Tyr had no idea what to say to that all. Obviously he had known that explaining about bad days would be about whatever had happened. But Stiles was telling this really long story which sounded like a made up story, a horror story mostly. Something that couldn't be real, something he might see happening in one of those dramatic TV shows called soap operas, their storylines had been way out there but that's why he secretly loved watching them in the first place. Same reason why he loved to read what Jim always referred to as teenager chick lits.

Born wolf lost his entire family in a fire set by a hunter who had tricked him. Then he lost his sister to a crazy uncle and became alpha when he killed said uncle. There was something called a true alpha, which he had no idea what that was, and Derek lost another pack. Which didn't really fucking put Tyr at ease because if Derek kept losing packs, it wouldn't be good to belong to it. Then the huntress returned and kidnapped Derek, something happened and he was able to turn into a wolf. Great, that wasn't something special, was it? He had no fucking clue. Derek was tortured twice in Hell, and one time it lasted way too long and now he was cray-cray enough to need therapy and have bad days.

Blowing a raspberry, he had no idea where to start with questions. It was like his mind all exploded with the overkill of a very bad life for the alpha who had started up the shower upstairs. Maybe today was a bad day, because Derek hadn't eaten much at all. Tyr kind of hoped this was a bad day because if this was a good day then the wolf was a very, very grumpy one.

"How fucking insane is he? Like, are we talking stabby 'Heeeeeeeeere's Johnny' kind of bad days or more like today kind of bad day? No offense or anything but fuck, how is he even capable of getting up every day?"

How was he even still alive? It did make so much fucking sense though, the way the alpha behaved, the Spark was lucky he even had a mate capable of using speech. Tyr might have disappeared after losing the sister, let alone being able to handle all the rest.

Stiles understood and wasn't surprised by the shock and surprise on Tyr's face. It was to be expected after the summed up the life story of his mate. With a little smile and a shrug he signaled that it was okay to react like this then drank some lemonade to think his answer through. He got it why Tyr started with this question. Joining a pack with an unstable alpha was risky at best. That's why Stiles tried to give him the bigger picture.

"I wanted to tell you the whole story so you'd understand why Derek is the way he is. Ever since I've known him, he's been scarce with words and communicates better with his expressions, eyebrows, gestures and intonation. Yes, it can lead to misunderstandings or miscommunication sometimes, but that's why I always pester him with my questions. Sooner or later I get my answers from him," Stiles chuckled and stuffed another egg roll into his mouth, chewing it happily away.

"Today is a bad day for him. We haven't had the chance to talk it over yet why, but I assume he had one of the worse flashbacks from the pool of Hell memories. There are stages as far as bad days go for him. This one feels like a 'moderately' bad day. He won't lash out unless provoked. And he usually has a good grip on his control and rarely gets physical, so no, no crazed killing sprees to be expected. Besides, most of the time I can get a read on his feelings thanks to the mate and emissary bods we have. So I can step in, if needed," he shrugged again and paused in his eating.

"You asked a good question, though. I believe it's not easy for him to get up every day. I'm also sure that in the past he had wished a few times that he didn't wake up at all. But giving up is not Derek Hale's style. He is stubborn and will always get up, no matter how hard a punch life gives him. I've never known anyone as strong as Derek. And now he has many reasons to get out of bed each morning. His daughter, his mate, our future plans. But even before all this, even when he wasn't an alpha, he had this 'core strength' in him. He's a survivor and a warrior. With some help, he'll get through this too."

It was bad of Tyr to be relieved about this being a bad day, right? Because he was so fucking relieved Tyr felt like he could breathe again. If this was a bad day then normally Derek would be nicer. Sure it was a fucking moderately bad day so that meant there were worse ones but that also meant on good days the alpha possibly was a different person instead of this closed off grumpy evil eyebrow guy. Scarce with words was fine, he talked enough for ten people, but that closed off look that made him feel like he was intruding all the time was wearing on his nerves.

"Unless provoked. How do I provoke him? Because I'd like to avoid that. He looks like he could rip me apart with only two claws." Rarely getting physical or not, Tyr knew from experience he had a habit of getting on people's nerves so what if he was the one to push too much and not know? Obviously he wasn't too bad off or they wouldn't let a kid in the near vicinity of him, which was at least comforting. And there had been talk of picking up a Beth so he assumed said kid lived here with crazy Alpha.

"He's usually good at keeping his cool, but if he frowns hard and his lips press into a thin line that curves downwards, it's better to back off. I have the uncanny ability to go on his nerves easily, often unwittingly, but he didn't hurt me for that yet and I doubt he would. In the past I had found myself pressed against hard surfaces because of that, though. Now I don't think he'd do that, both because I'm his mate and because I've learned how to read him better. As for you... He'll get used to your similarly restless and free-spirited being. I talk and ask a lot and buzz around too, so at least he has practice in handling all that," Stiles hummed, gesturing in the air with his fork again while he was thinking.

Meanwhile not caring if it was rude, Tyr got another plate full of food, because there was so much of it and as long as his stomach wasn't protesting that he was stuffing way too much in it, there was no fucking way he was stopping. The food was really good, a good balance of meat, vegetables and noodles or rice, depending on which carton of food he picked. He liked the chicken stuff, it was really tasty meat. Way better than eating it raw.

Derek sounded like a good alpha though. Unlucky with all the shit thrown at him, was dealt fucking bad cards and doing his best to handle it all. Even when he didn't want to handle it. "So how old is he anyways?" Sure Stiles had said they met when Stiles had been sixteen and he had been to college and whatever so that made the Spark like 25, but Tyr had no clue how old Derek even was. Young, old? He looked… fuck he had no clue.

Stiles hummed. "I cannot really give you a 101 manual on Derek. It's pretty much trial and error, but you can sense it better with your wolfy abilities in what kind of mood he is in. If he puts up the stops both verbally and non-verbally, back off. There are some sensitive topics, like being in Hell, the leaving of Beth's mother, the death of his family and packs, which aren't advised to bring up randomly, but otherwise you'll be fine, I think," Stiles shrugged then shoveled some more chicken and vegetables into his mouth before continuing.

"Well... his age is a good question. Even I don't know his exact age. I'll be 26 in April. I believe he's just a couple of years older than me, but he keeps the exact number a secret. Dunno why. I guess to tease me. But he is somewhat older than me, that's for sure," he chuckled lightly and finished the last egg roll with some fried pasta before leaning back in his chair to pat his full belly, washing the food down with some more lemonade.

"But he's a good alpha and man, Tyr. He might have made mistakes in the past, but now he's not alone anymore. I'm here to help him and his small pack. He has an emissary and mate in one too and I dare to believe that it balances him out a lot more."

Yeah maybe it would be okay to sense when to back off but Derek wasn't easy to sense, not when Tyr was a particular stranger. His body was one tense chunk of muscles, the eyebrows stuck in a perpetual frown so how was Tyr to know what was a hard frown? Tyr realized it was going to take time to be able to get it from the body language alone or to read it from the signals surrounding the man.

"He doesn't smell upset, just... distant. Maybe he can mask it for werewolves?" It was really hard to say though sure, he knew them for what, a couple of hours at the most. But the not eating, the showering, he guessed he could count those as signs as well not to push the alpha when in that kind of mood.

Besides, the topics not allowed to talk about weren't good ones anyways, way too depressing so there wasn't much chance of Tyr even considering asking. Besides the mom but he had gotten an answer to that. And if it did come to resurface, then fuck it, he'd deal with it, as long as he knew the right triggers and when to stop pushing but he'd probably look for Stiles with that, he'd know way sooner than Tyr would.

"I don't know about werewolf aging, I was so fucking young before I was taught any of that. Dad said to never give ages to anybody because it wasn't the same for humans. We're younger than we look. And then we stop aging and that's all I know. I don't even know how old I am," Tyr shrugged because it never was a problem. He had a really great fake ID now so who even cared, he looked adult, he was adult, end of story.

Eating the rest on his plate, he thought on all of it, nodding to himself. "He's fucking lucky to have you and you him. It sucks to be alone. Really sucks." And then he licked his plate clean like a dog would since he was never taught any manners whatsoever.

"Now, table manners 101. No licking the plate clean when you have company. I mean it doesn't bother me, but it might some who doesn't know you are a werewolf. They'd look strangely at you," Stiles chuckled quite amused then shrugged. "Otherwise, I don't know if Derek can mask things like that to other wolves. Perhaps. But he is usually distant because he doesn't trust easily. Neither do I but I have a good feeling about you, to be honest," he added with a reassuring small smile.

"And yes, wolf age is a mysterious thing for many, including me. But in the end it is just a number. To me and my magic you... feel a couple of years younger than us, but with not much. Not that it particularly matters to us."

There was also some real emotions behind Tyr's last sentences and it dampened Stiles' smile a bit, although his cheeks were pink from the compliment. "Yes, we are lucky and I know how it is to be alone, drifting through life. Even with a purpose. Always missing something. A place or person to belong to. An anchor. Company and family. Been there, done that, even if for not as long or not the way you had to endure in your life. You're not alone with feeling like this. We both understand. Derek even more, because he had lost his own family and blamed himself for years because of that while he was a lone wolf. So yeah, it sucks but it gets better. Or at least it can get better."

Oh. Ooooops. That explained why Tyr got weird looks whenever he ate from plates around people, but in his defense, nobody ever told him that he wasn't supposed to. They rarely ate all together at the group home and on the streets the food didn't come with plates. Putting the plate down, he licked his lips and fingers and drained his glass of lemonade. His belly was super full, bulging a little from the large amount he had eaten but that was a habit of his. He'd eat as much as possible when offered food because he had never known how long he'd be without.

"I'm a good guy, I don't understand how humans can do what they do. I only want a pack and food," Tyr admitted, his basic needs needed to be met, which was a place to sleep, food, sex and a pack. The rest of all the social life he didn't get. Like, sure he had a phone and he really liked computers because wow, that was a whole other world but if he had bad intentions, he'd make them known. Which usually meant he'd like, eat food not allowed or steal clothes.

"You guys have a child and a home and you're like this super powerful Spark and he's an alpha. And that's awesome but I think if I could, if I remembered how to shift back, I would have gone back to the wolves a long time ago. I don't get this world. It's like... those kids who were born in the wrong body. That's how it feels. I should be wolf, not this," Tyr motioned to himself. "But I really like sex and I'd miss that, because as a wolf it's not anything fun. It's quick and it's about procreation and not this amazing feeling."

Stiles nearly choked on his sip of lemonade from that last comment but he managed to swallow it without too much coughing and decided to put his glass down to avoid accidents that might piss his mate off. Who took his sweet time with that shower...

"Man, you really are a fresh breath of air. It's usually me who says things out so unfiltered. I like that. But yes, I can see why you'd want to go back to the wolves. But if you really wanted that deep down, I think you wouldn't be here asking for a place in our pack," Stiles leaned on the table with his elbows, watching the beta closely with his whiskey-colored eyes.

"It's not easy to understand humans and this society, because it's complicated, multi-layered and often not too logical. Humans are also often very dumb, mean or ignorant. But there's a good side to them and this life too. Life in general is a bitch. In human or wolf form. It's about survival. But there's a reason why it is harder and more dangerous doing things without help. We can offer some help. And the most important is: give it some time. Be patient with yourself and the world around you. You've been a 'wild child' – and I mean no offense with that – for a long time. Living with real wolves, far from human society from a young age. Of course, you find it strange since you weren't raised in it. But I think, with some time and effort, you'll be able to discover that this kind of life has a lot of good things to offer too. Let yourself get accommodated, let yourself grow. And with time, we'll be able to find a way for you to shift back too," he explained patiently.

"And yes, sex is one of the best things in this world," Stiles grinned, wiggling his brows. "Especially with the right people. I'd miss that too. A lot." Yeah, Stiles was positive that by now he was addicted to sex with his mate and wouldn't be able to go on without it for long. "Do you have anyone you like or are seeing, by the way?"

"I knew I wasn't like the wolves, but I'm not like the humans either. I guess maybe if there's a way to live in-between, I'd like that."

But Tyr didn't know much about the human world, he had spent only a short time in the group home before he turned eighteen, and that had been on a guess by a doctor since he was undocumented and they had no idea where to ship him off. When the officials had gotten involved he had bolted anyways. Jim had shown him a little of what was out there. Maybe if he could read and write it would be easier, maybe if he could at least experience what it was like to be part of this society, he could make up his mind. He really wanted to be able to turn back, to at least not long for it and give into it.

If there was more than sex to enjoy, well, Tyr did really fucking love the food too, maybe he wouldn't mind it so much. It was going to be hard to be a wolf when he had been able to think more like this. Be more, be mindful. "No, I don't. I'm enjoying what people have to offer. There was Jim in Chicago. But he was human and didn't get me as much. I sometimes fucking miss him, but I’ve got too restless." Mating seemed too complicated, he wanted an alpha mate if he'd go there. And that wasn't easy to find so there wasn't anybody. "I had a wolf partner, she was nice."

Derek had opted for the shower not just because of the bad day. Yes, the hot water helped when his mind was playing havoc on him and scrubbing his skin clean felt like it was scrubbing himself clean from the inside a little as well. But he knew it would give Stiles the time to get more information out of the beta without having the dark cloud of alpha hanging over their heads. Food in the belly, clean clothes, it might make for a good moment to see who this Tyr was. Especially with the water running, to give a sense of privacy.

Downside was that he had no idea what was being talked about besides the explanation as to why he was the way he was. For a long time Derek got lost in getting clean, forgetting the time and trying to stretch it out to give as long to the two downstairs as possible until his skin was just done with Derek's frantic cleaning and his fingers felt like dried prunes. By the time he had dried off, gotten into clean clothes, the hair was dry and he only needed to rub some wax into it to give it its usual do. Of course it needed products or it would be this floppy mess hanging into his eyes.

As he got downstairs, his skin healed up all nicely and smelling of a fresh shower. The two energetic younger males were still talking, as he had suspected, babbling away in the kitchen. Derek checked his phone for the time, hearing the last of the words. Oh great. A werewolf had mated with a female wolf, so it was possible there were actual werewolf cubs out there.

Shit.

Of course, even Stiles heard the water being closed upstairs. He would've even without the somewhat sharper senses he had inherited from the mate bond since the Stilinski house was an older one and apparently without walls that would be thick enough for privacy. That memory of his dad yelling from downstairs to keep it down or the occasions when the TV's volume got turned up in time with their moans and yells' volume were quite telltale signs of that. And boy... the embarrassment after that first time when they had to face the sheriff the next morning... After that these occasions started to secretly amuse Stiles. But he doubted that the mortified Derek shared his feelings about the topic. Good thing they are going to move soon.

For now focusing on Tyr again, Stiles hummed, tilting his head to the side while thinking. "I believe you'll find your place in the world. Dunno when, but it's bound to happen. You might feel like drifting perhaps aimlessly in the world. Or maybe that was your past and now finding a pack and your true self are your motivators. But I talk from experience that if you work hard towards your goals and give it some time and lots of patience, it'll one day become your new reality," the emissary gave Tyr another reassuring smile. Because yes, everything and everyone has its time and place and purpose. Or at least in Stiles' opinion. And he loved searching for such clues that would prove his point.

So many things have happened in his life seemingly without a reason, but looking back he understood the whys and hows better now. Like why his mom's death had made him stronger; how his life came into full circle with becoming a man of the law like his dad; or why he and Derek had to wait so long to get together. And there were many, many more such occasions. Smaller and bigger. Maybe one day Tyr will understand this too.

Alright, Tyr apparently wasn't concerned about gender either. Which was great since they both obviously understood that concept from first hand. "I see," Stiles nodded, the cheerful look staying on his face while he felt Derek already looming on the stairs. "Can I ask what happened to them? And Derek, you can come in. We already had all the girl talk about your sexy ass and grumpy nature," he slightly turned his head towards the kitchen door and the stairs beyond that.

As quiet as the alpha was, there was no way to hide much in this house, they could hear the water turned off, the quiet footfalls on the soft carpet upstairs, soft, but worn enough to no longer hide the dulled thumps. The creaking of the stairs as he descended. Not that there were secrets to be kept from the other male, Tyr had no use for secrets, too much work to keep up with.

"Most are dead. Wolves get shot and killed," Tyr shrugged at that, he had mourned, he had howled, it happened and he had moved on. "The rest of the pack is still out there. I left because I felt like I had to. Like there was more for me out there." Since he couldn't read, he only had a hunch where they were but he had ran off as a wolf and by the time he had found out he was able to shift into a human form, many nights had passed. So even if he wanted to return, he wouldn't know how to find them.

Looking back wasn't his thing, best not to start with that now. He was here and not there, that was how it was. And if his place wasn't going to be here, then he'd move on again and not look back and deal with life as it came.

Since he was busted, Derek appeared, not even having the decency to look guilty for waiting on the stairs. Instead he leaned in to kiss Stiles, smelling like a fresh shower and clean clothes. "Life of wolves and werewolves isn't easy. At least now you have a voice to protect them," he told Tyr, pondering what the best thing was to do: leave Tyr here with Stiles alone, which would be a risk since the beta was still a stranger? But taking him with to pick up Beth wouldn't be good either.

"We have to pick up our daughter, but we'll come right back afterwards. Are you okay with watching TV?" When the long-haired male nodded, he was relieved. Sure, leaving him here by himself was a risk too but it wasn't as if snooping was going to get him very far in this house, because there was nothing interesting to find. Noah wouldn't be home yet so Tyr wasn't going to get shot and they had time to prepare the young child for having a guest at home, which is why he wanted to take Stiles with him, to be a united front. And they had a little time to talk in the car before they'd be joined by the toddler herself.

The food had to cool down before it could be put in the fridge but since they were going to eat it as dinner, why even bother? This way they could fill plates and heat them up in the microwave. As Stiles turned on Netflix and found a show for Tyr to watch, Derek grabbed his wallet, jacket, and car keys. So much for slowly building up the pack. No rest for the weary and he had a feeling along with Tyr there was more to come.

THE PROPOSAL

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