Chapter 1

Stiles opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, focusing on the glow-in-the-dark stars that he and Scott had attached to the ceiling when they were in 4th grade. He took a deep breath and reached for his phone off the nightstand and checked the time…4:17am…before putting it back down with a sigh. The last day was still pretty much a blur and now he was lying in his bed uncertain about what to do next. Yesterday they had talked in Derek's loft until just after lunch when his dad's yawning finally got too much to ignore. He hadn't really been much better if he was being honest and neither was anyone else once the adrenaline from the battle and everything else had worn off. Not wanting to deal with everything anymore, Stiles and his dad had returned home and both had crashed for several hours sleep.

The first time he woke up he heard his dad in the other room on the phone. The sheriff had called to check in and Stiles had been willing to struggle out of his bed when his door opened and his dad was standing there in sweats and a t-shirt. He told Stiles that he had told the station he would out until the following morning before hanging up. Stiles sighed in relief but dragged himself up and they ate a simple dinner without saying much, just enjoying the quiet. An hour later and both Stilinski men were back asleep. Stiles had woken up several times since then but now it seemed he was finished sleeping even if he wasn't exactly ready to face the world.

He was a bit surprised he had slept so well, but he supposes that the combination of the battle, all the bad guys being wiped out, and a near impenetrable force field on his house translated into a pretty worry free sleep. Finally tossing aside his covers he moves over to his desk and thinks about going online, but he is fairly sure that he isn't going to be able to find the answers to his current questions there. Glancing around at his books he can feel the subtle hum of magic that resides with them and sighs as he realizes with a sharp pang of regret that he would never get to visit the Majestic Library again.

Dropping to the floor, Stiles decides that if he can't sleep or research, he would try meditation. Closing his eyes he finds himself grounding faster than ever before as he reaches out and touches the ley line running under the house and suddenly it felt as if he had grabbed a live electrical wire as he receives a burst of energy. It doesn't hurt, more like when he mixed coffee and red bull that one time he doesn't want to ever mention again. No, instead he feels supercharged, excited, and connected like never before. There is a moment of welcome, a flicker of recognition that he recognizes as the heart stone he tied all his protections to. The warder was like a dog, acknowledging him, but not standing down from its appointed duties, and with a mental pat the teen passes it by and Stiles can feel his senses rushing along the line until it crosses another line and then that feeling of connection multiplies and he is racing in three directions. Each time he crosses a line, his awareness expands as if he was exploring a spider-web of connections spread out all around him. He pauses for a moment, reveling in the feeling of being connected but something catches his attention on one line and his mind leaps forward and in moments he is outside of Beacon Hills and moving fast along the line.

Stiles doesn't try to control how and where he was going, instead he just lets the flow carry him along and he suddenly realizes that the line has taken him west where it touches the Pacific Ocean and he smiles at the feeling of connection to the water. He frowns when he notices several smaller irritations that are nearby and he focuses his attention on them and suddenly he can hear singing. It's a pod of merfolk! Eyes widening, Stiles can feel the fourteen individuals swimming beyond the shore as they move closer, curiosity clear in their auras, as they search for the new presence they have sensed. Stiles pulls back and suddenly he is shooting along another of the lines, now heading north. He feels several wolves, both alone and in packs, and unlike the merfolk, it appears that most of them are unaware of any happenings to the south but Stiles can feel the energies of the land there shifting, becoming familiar like Beacon Hills, caressing him and welcoming him as an old friend finally come home.

He enjoys the warm glow of the feelings but he quickly realizes that the Alpha of one of the packs feels…'off' somehow, like they are sick or something. Stiles is suddenly pulled along the lines again before he can focus enough to investigate, moving west this time. He feels a flicker of awareness, a bright, shiny mind that is significantly surprised at the connection but very much aware of him. Stiles doesn't feel threatened. No. Instead he feels a tentative greeting, an acknowledgement of Stiles that disappears as he moves past the feather-light touch. Had someone actually recognized his presence? He doesn't have time to consider as suddenly he is rushing south, but this time he slows his movement until he comes to a connection point of three strong Ley lines that shines brightly in his mind. Stiles touches the node and feels of surge of power as the magic gathered there yields to his touch, acknowledging him as a friend and partner. He laughs at the feeling from the magic, like it knows him and likes him!

"Stiles?" he hears his father's voice, tentative and distant but with enough concern to alarm the teen. With an effort he pulls himself back and after a moment is coherent enough to look over to see his father standing in the doorway looking worried.

"Dad?" his voice feels raw as he answers and notices that the room is bright with light as he stares at his father, his human and normal father who's aura is calm, restful and peaceful to his eyes. He also notices that the sun is now up and that means that he must have been meditating for several hours.

Noah Stilinski however was anything but peaceful. Waking up with the sunrise, he had come out of his bathroom when he felt a hum, a vibration that was thrumming through the whole house. Moving quickly to his son's room, he opened the door onto a sight that had stunned him. Stiles was sitting on the floor, legs crossed, with his eyes open wide and a bright white light shining out from them. Noah had seen his son's eyes like this before, but what he hadn't seen before was his whole body engulfed in a rainbow of light and color, sparkles coming off him and moving around the room like miniature stars.

His first impulse was to yell but something about it made him pause. The lights were almost…joyful? He realized that they were not just moving, but they were dancing and as he watched Stiles' face, his son was smiling gently, the stress and worries of the last year smoothed away. Noah finally called out, gently, but it was enough for his son to glance over in surprise before the lights faded away and the light around his son dimmed until it was only in his eyes before that too faded away, returning to the warm amber that always caused a slight tremor when he saw Claudia's eyes staring back at him from Stiles' face.

"Dad?" Stiles repeated as he slowly stood up. "Are you okay?" he asked sensing his father's confusion.

"I think I should be asking that son" Noah said with a shake. "You were lit up like a Christmas tree."

Stiles freezes before he barks out a nervous laugh and looks embarrassed. The two men head downstairs as the Sheriff describes what he saw when he walked in and Stiles shares his morning adventures. They have just finished breakfast when a sudden knocking on the door surprises both of them. Noah opens the door and sees Isaac Lahey standing there looking half asleep. "Isaac?" the sheriff asks with his professional voice.

"Sir" Isaac says respectfully. "Lizzie wants to talk with Stiles but she can't get in" he points to the street where the druid was currently standing and waving.

"I got it" Stiles yelled rushing past both of them to run over to Lizzie. Grabbing her hand he pulls her across the barrier with a sheepish look. "Sorry about that" he apologizes.

"Don't apologize. Your protections are impressive" she says as Isaac heads back home to return to his interrupted sleep. "After I felt you riding the ley lines this morning I thought we should talk. I can only stay for a few days before I need to get back home, so I thought that maybe we could spend that time together" she offers.

Moving into the house, Stiles and Lizzie sit down while the Sheriff starts moving around the kitchen before returning with fresh coffee. "I'm still a bit confused about everything" he admits to the woman looking at his son with an apologetic glance. "But I'm afraid that I am going to have to deal with the FBI and everything that Blake did before I can even think about anything else."

Lizzie nods in understanding and keeps things light until the Sheriff heads out to go to work. He advises Stiles that he will probably be late dealing with everything before leaving. "So" Lizzie says as the door closes "I think we should talk…Morgaine to Arcanist. I can tell you what I know about your powers and history, but I imagine that you will discover a great deal more through your own studies." She smiles at his look of frustration "Besides, I think you could also use some intensive tutoring on Druidic magic and who better than me to provide it?" her eyes twinkle as she says it.

"You are going to teach me Druidic magic?" Stiles stammers but suddenly thinks about the texts he has been reading on Druidic magic and all of the questions he has. "I have so many questions!" he says with a gleam in his eye that causes the woman to laugh and settle down. She may only be able to stay a few days, but Lizzie plans to make the most of each one.

Derek jumps up from the push-ups to grab the bar for another set of pull ups as he moves through his morning workout. He needed to press as hard as he could, reveling in the physical strain and stress that allows him to stop thinking about everything that has happened in the last 24 hours. He had struggled after Stiles had left the loft with his dad, feeling out of sorts with the teen's absence, but he knew he shouldn't push or press too hard. Hell, they didn't really know what it would mean…but Stiles had kissed him and Derek can still taste the other man's lips.

"Oh god, don't you ever rest!" Isaac groans as he walks back into the loft. He had left earlier with Lizzie because she wanted to see Stiles. The bigger frustration was the conversation she had with Derek before she left.

"I will have to leave soon, so I am going to have to monopolize his time. Use it to get your head on straight Alpha. The rush and pressure of the fight are fading but the choices you both made are not something that you can change. You will need to figure out how to be in a partnership together and I think both of you need to think about what that exactly means" she had told him.

Derek had bristled at her words, however kindly they were delivered. "I am not going to try to get out of my promise but I won't force Stiles to do anything he doesn't want to" he had growled.

Lizzie had laughed at that and smiled at him with what he could only call sympathy. "Derek…he's the Arcanist. If anyone tries to force him to do something he doesn't want to do, they probably will not live long enough to regret it. I am more worried that you won't push him when he needs it. You are going to face what basically amounts to an invasion of your territory by every supernatural being in range and probably by some that have been hidden for centuries. Heck, some that were thought gone forever might even show up. It affects you as the Alpha of this territory as much as it does Stiles. You are his mate. Other packs in his territory will be subordinate to you simply because you are his partner and he will not consider any other pack as being your equal. They will have to accept you as well."

Derek looks lost at her words. "You expect other packs to come here?" he finally asks.

Lizzie smiles. "Derek, he was testing his borders this morning. He reached over a hundred miles in every direction. His territory is vast and will encompass the territory of several packs easily. Despite their previous independence, this land is now his and everything inside it will have to deal with that truth regardless of what it was yesterday. You are, for lack of a better word, the co-ruler of his territory and many beings will look to use you to get to him" she sighs as she looks at his sudden defensive posture. "Not all of them will try to use you like that. They will also appeal to you, entreat you, bribe you…all because you are the mate of the Arcanist and can support their positions to him. You are an avenue to power whether you want it or not. Some may seek to threaten you but I would not wish the fate that will land on those that threaten violence to what Stiles views as his."

Derek froze for a second as he realized what she was dancing around. There would be those that would try to use him to get what they wanted. Derek was very familiar with that and he swore never again. He knew his eyes had flashed when Lizzie sighed again.

"Derek, please think carefully. Talk to your uncle. As much as there are those that want to use you, there are many ways you can help him. You can hear things he won't and make sure he has good counsel. Think about it, just because there are those that will seek to use you doesn't mean that you can't turn it around to benefit your pack and mate" she smiles wickedly and Derek feels an atavistic shiver. "You two could truly be amazing."

Derek had watched the strange woman leave on that note and had been left with his thoughts. Angry at the idea, he also sullenly realizes that she has a point. Peter had been his mother's second and hadn't hesitated to do anything that would benefit the Hale pack. His father had been the gentle one, the one the family would go to for reassurance. Could he be that for Stiles? Derek had never truly felt comfortable as the Alpha. He had always expected it to be Laura and he knows that he has not always handled things the way he should have but he likes to think that he has finally gotten to the point where he was starting to do a good job as Alpha, but he knows it will always be an effort for him, not like it would have been for her. But now? Now he could still be the Alpha, but in service to a greater Alpha? Stiles would ultimately have power over the territory and Derek could be his support without any loss of reputation or sign of weakness.

Watching Isaac return to his room Derek made a decision and reached for his phone. "Come over, I need to talk with you" he said into the phone without preamble.

Christopher Argent sits at the table in his kitchen, coffee in hand, and stares at his laptop, the empty document taunting him. He has been here all morning trying to think exactly what he is supposed to say to the family and the other hunters, but for the first time in his life he truly doesn't know where to begin. Chris has dealt with magic before, you can't hunt the supernatural and avoid it, especially if your name is Argent, but last night was something altogether different. What he saw the kid do…that was just not something he was prepared for.

When it looked like Stilinski might die, Chris had a flash of relief followed by guilt about it, but the fact was the kid was powerful and powerful had always equaled danger. But sitting in the loft, listening to the Morgaine speak, had been enough to rattle the foundations of Chris's world. And what little stability had been left had been shattered when less than an hour after returning home last night he found the powerful druid knocking on his door and coming in as if she owned the place.

"Allison isn't here" he had told her hoping that she was actually looking for his daughter while knowing deep down that she must be able to tell that with her magic.

Lizzie smiled at him as she walked into his kitchen. "Would you like some tea?" she asked courteously and Chris had watched, torn between confusion and irritation, as she pulled out the tea, mugs, and water as if this was her own kitchen and not his.

"I thought you were going to try to sleep?" Chris said remembering the woman's words as everyone began leaving after the sheriff and Stiles had left.

Lizzie looks at him and suddenly Chris feels a chill run down his spine as her eyes darken with 'knowing' as she stares right through him. "I will" she promises "as soon as we have our chat. I think you need someone to talk with about all of this." She pauses as she looks at him with sympathy "You seem a bit…overwhelmed?" she prompts.

Chris snorts. "Overwhelmed? That's a good word. What I have seen tonight…" he trails off as he sits down "…I didn't know that kind of magic existed" he finally admits.

"No you wouldn't. Hunters rarely see beyond their obsession" she muses as she pours the water into the cups. She laughs at his affronted reaction to her words. "Please Christopher, even you must recognize that hunting is rarely a sane choice, but rather is often an emotional response to overwhelming anger, grief, and fear."

Chris swallows at that description and wants to argue with her but he knows that there is some serious truth behind her words. His father and sister were consumed by anger about the wolves, the fact was that they always seemed more interested in killing the wolves than protecting their victims. Chris thinks that if it hadn't been for his uncle, his mother's brother, he would have turned out like Kate. But Mark Argent had been his famous hunter uncle and Chris would follow him around like a puppy whenever he visited. He was strong and brave and fierce and never shied away from danger, but all of his stories ended with the protection of the innocent, not blood and gore. It had seemed that he didn't like the bloody parts of his job, not like Gerard did.

Some family blowup happened when Chris was only thirteen which ended all contact between Gerard's family and Mark Argent and Chris had always mourned that loss. His father turned even crueler and drove Chris and his sister even harder than before but his Uncle had given Chris something to hold on to. Something noble and worthwhile about what they did. He never forgot and Gerard never truly managed to twist his son like he did his daughter.

"Fine" he finally admits after the silence goes on too long. "But people do need protecting from the supernatural" he reminds her.

Lizzie laughs. "Christopher, I am a druid. We are the keepers of the balance. Hunters have a role, just as werewolves do. Other hunters know this and I think you do too. But you are not worried about wolves right now are you? I think you are worried more about a teenager" she says looking at him carefully.

"And you are going to tell me I don't have to worry?" he asks sharply and sees her eyes crinkle with laughter.

"Oh no. Stiles' magic is an unknown. His presence will make Beacon Hills shine not like a fire in the darkness but as a lighthouse reaching across the world. There will be many challenges and tests of his mettle in the days, weeks, and years ahead" she sighs and smiles. "But he is powerful, like the others before him. I do not doubt that he will ultimately triumph in his tests and will bring peace to the lands he claims. My concern is that you add to the triumph, not the challenges."

Chris's face doesn't give anything away. He knows she is asking whose side he is on and he isn't willing to commit yet. She sighs again and stands.

"Christopher, take some time before you act. Think carefully of what you know about Stiles and what he cares most about. He is a protector, a defender. He will not suffer the monsters you fear any more than you would. The difference is he doesn't automatically assume that everyone that isn't human is monstrous" she says gently.

"I know what he is like" Chris admits slowly "but power…power can change you. It twists your view on things and allows you to assume that what's good for you is better even when it's not" he says slowly. "I don't know what the power will do to him."

Lizzie nods but when Chris looks up he isn't seeing the mild mannered English woman, he is seeing the ancient Morgaine. "Then understand this clearly Hunter. Act or assist any to act against the boy without absolute certainty of some crime and you will be declaring yourself his enemy and for all your toys, you would not win against him" she warns. She narrows her eyes and Chris feels his guts tighten in fear "and you would be declaring yourself my enemy as well and that is not a safe thing to be." Morgaine turns and leaves the house and Chris can feel his heart racing at the implications. She is the High Druidess and at her word, every druid in the world would turn on him and his family not to mention how many magical beings.

Leaning back in his chair he decides that he is going to actually take her advice. Take a few days to think about this and talk with Allison…and maybe Scott. Even if Stilinski wasn't his first choice to have that kind of power, he is definitely not the worse. Thinking of his father he shudders and even the hint of the idea of what Gerard would do if he could get his hands on the boy.