Monsters | Stiles Stilinski

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟏

   THE NEXT FORTY-EIGHT HOURS WERE A BLUR. I spent the first six or seven hours out searching for Stiles with Scott and the others. It was exactly like the night before though, there was no scent. When Stiles .. well, it wasn't even him. When the Nogitsune controlled his body his scent disappeared. He left us with nothing and forced us to give up because we wouldn't be able to find him. Giving up was easily the hardest thing though because it felt like I was abandoning him.

The Nogitsune was clever — too clever and we would have to wait for it or Stiles to show up, whenever that may be. There wasn't anything we could do about it besides distract ourselves from thinking about Stiles.

That was why after that, a solid day was spent in the hospital with Issac. He had a lot of visitors and the nurses of the hospital had given in trying to force us out with the excuse it was family only. We were all his family and no one could justify leaving him on his own when he was in need of us.

That night I went home but the second I laid down in Stiles' bed knowing I was going to be sleeping without him I knew I wouldn't get any shut eye. The Sheriff was on night shift — his third in a row still looking for Stiles — so leaving the house was easy. I went to the loft and I stayed with Derek. I didn't get much sleep there either but it was somewhat easier knowing I wasn't in Stiles' bed.

A conversation I'd had with Derek that night was haunting me, his words were echoing in my head every time I closed my eyes and I just wanted peace. I'd never get it though, probably not for a very long time if this was just going to be the start.

"You have to tell Stilinski, Alex. You have to tell him what's really going on with Stiles."

They were still echoing in my mind now, long after I'd abandoned Isaac's old bed. They followed me out to the preserve and even when faced with the most peaceful sunrise I'd ever witnessed, I still couldn't clear my head.

I heard rustling leaves behind me but before I had the chance to turn around I caught a scent of Aiden's cologne. He'd wore the same one everyday since he was fourteen and while it was strong it was familiar and familiar was comforting. He was comforting no matter how much I wanted to dislike him.

I didn't move as he sat beside me, mirroring the way I was sitting as he drew his knees into his chest and wrapped his arms around them. I wasn't sure why he was out here, I tried to read his chemo-signals but he wasn't emitting any. Instead, I savoured the company and silence while I still had it. I knew Aiden would no doubt break it soon enough.

And I was right.

"Had much sleep?"

I lowered my chin on to my knees as the sky started to lighten, orange hues coming to life and mixing with a vibrant pink, "No." Was my quiet response. No more than a mere whisper.

He released a short sigh, "Neither."

"What are you doing here?" I asked him curiously.

"Caught your scent nearby." I responded, "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

I turned my head to him, looking at him for the first time since his arrival. His words were true, I could tell he hadn't had much sleep. His eyes spoke volumes, he looked exhausted. "Were you out looking last night?"

He nodded silently, "Not a trace." He said to me, "I don't understand."

I pressed my lips together and looked back at the sun, "I don't understand how you knew." I admitted. I'd wondered it for a few hours now, if not more. How had he figured it out and I hadn't? I knew Stiles best — along with Scott and the Sheriff — so I had no idea how it'd managed to slip by me.