Chapter Text
Derek Hale Meets Bane Of His Existence
Derek Hale is not the youngest member of his pack, one would think he is with the way his family babies him and talks down to him, but no. Derek is the middle child of his own family and on the older end of his pack. He is, however, the only one who is not dating or married. That of course does not include some of his nieces and nephews and a few of his cousins but does that matter to his pack? No. To his pack he is the single, thirty-year-old abomination that refuses to do what every pack member is supposed to; find a mate.
It’s not as if he hasn’t tried, but he has this horrible, soul-wrenching draw towards humans that only ends in extreme pain. Pain that affects not only him but his family and his pack. There was the way too human Paige, who was snarky and fierce and never feared him. Not even in the end when he had to break her neck because the pain was too much and the bite was too late. She loved him, till her last breath, even though he did nothing to deserve such love.
Then there was Kate, whom Derek connected with the burn of whiskey and the stench of regret. Kate, who would take and take until there was nothing left. She would’ve taken everything from him if his pack wasn’t always watching and spying on him. His pack intercepted her before she could take everything away from him.
His whole life Derek has hated the way Pack knows everything about everyone and you can never have a single thing for yourself. The only time he was grateful for it was after Kate and the fact that she tried to murder his entire family and was from a family of mostly corrupted hunters. For once, his pack being nosy saved them all rather than create drama.
Despite being allied with the family now, Derek doesn’t trust them, doesn’t trust anyone. Not even himself.
So yes, pack can be invasive, suffocating, and above all; embarrassing. Heavy emphasis on the embarrassing. While most people don’t know that he’s in a pack, everyone has known since he was a kid that his family is large, loud, and always involved. That’s just the Hales. Where one goes, a dozen will follow, or more if you're unlucky.
Derek has always been shy, and soft-spoken, and would rather fade into the background than cause a fuss. He’s sure if he wasn’t also an athlete and built like one, school would’ve been a bullying nightmare. Laura-his older sister-says his murder brows and lack of smiling prevented him from being bullied. Pack that aren’t related to him by blood say that his good looks are what saved him.
Either way, Derek would’ve preferred to just glide through life unnoticed. Go to work, go home, annoy his sisters, etc. He gave up on the idea of dating after Kate and many would think that his aversion to dating is understandable. His pack doesn’t think so.
While Derek would prefer to simmer in his guilt and grief at what he almost did to his pack, the pack has decided that the problem is humans and that if he’d just date another supernatural…well then it’d just be perfect and easy and he’d have a mate just like that. So rather than letting him stew in his sadness and let him decide what he wants to do next, supernatural creature after creature from neighboring or ally packs is thrust at Derek on a platter.
Paige and Kate were far too close together for his young and fragile heart so Derek has now made it almost thirteen years without being in a serious relationship. There was always the occasional one night stand; mostly humans so never any knotting-and absolutely, no dating. Especially if they’re a human. Derek’s lack of emotional capability usually scares off the stragglers who want to stay forever. That and the murder brows, of course.
Since he refuses to find a mate, Derek has given up any attempts at privacy, letting the pack life consume him. He works everywhere and anywhere the pack needs; his uncle’s bar mostly, his aunt’s diner, his other aunt’s car shop, occasionally his sister’s law firm, his cousin's gym, etc. The Hale pack has almost every career path in town occupied and Derek has become the jack-of-all-trades family member that covers shifts anywhere, everywhere, and pretty much any day. He works, works out, spends time with Pack, and does it all over again.
He’s not unhappy personally but he’s not satisfied either. Even though his uncle Peter is at times creepy and always an asshole, Derek is close to him and has spoken to him about it before.
“Derek, while you are and have always been dedicated to the pack, you are otherwise a lone wolf. You keep to yourself, share only when forced, and participate when forced.”
Derek had been ready to argue that he’s always helping out, always there when Peter raised his hand to stop him, “You work and help out more than anyone I know, yes, but you never let go. You never let your wolf take over, never run wild on full moons, or live. You survive Derek but you don’t live. “
To say Peter’s words haunted him the last few weeks would be an understatement. He understands and part of him wants to fix it but he’s at a complete loss as to how. How does one just…’let go’? So, the hole in Derek’s chest grows and that feeling of missing something gnaws away at him little by little every day. He’s okay with that though because at the end of each day, his pack and family are safe.
That’s how Derek spends his days; surviving. His uncle and cousin arguing about who gets him for more shifts as usual while he doesn't care. Whether it's the bar or the gym, Derek tends to draw in more business even if he does enjoy working at the mechanic the most. Less interaction with people the better and Derek is great with cars.
While his mom doesn’t help him escape the matchmaking schemes of his pack, she has helped trick her brother into having other members help out at the bar on more than one occasion, specifically Erica. Erica is beautiful but unlike Derek, Erica is good at talking to people and drawing more in. So while his mom helps him out every once in awhile, Derek tries to sneak off and work at the car shop almost every day, or at least avoid working the bar.
It’s a day when he’s stuck at the bar, again, that he sees him.
Humans in packs aren’t something that is unheard of. Even his own pack has multiple humans who intend to stay human. They're not specist so humans in general aren't the problem. Laura’s youngest might even be human but she’s still too young to know for sure. That isn’t the problem and seeing humans hanging out with other wolves is nothing serious either. Even if his uncle’s bar is a common supernatural hangout spot, and supernatural-friendly bar.
Humans at the bar are fine as long as they’re not trying to date Derek or kill another super. Usually, they’re nothing special or difficult, just another customer to serve.
Peter enjoys watching Derek squirm so he has Derek off the bar and taking orders at tables. Apparently patrons like that for when they can’t squeeze through the swarming mass of bodies that block the bar even if Derek drops by each table once an hour. That doesn’t dissuade his tables from ordering every time he drops by though.
So when Peter nudges him in the direction of his section he points to a new table that is filled with a new group-a group Derek hasn’t seen before that looks to be in their mid to early twenties-Derek heaves his usual sigh and weaves through the crowd to take their order.
“Welcome to Howlers, yes the name is ironic,” Derek keeps his eyes on the menus as he slides them in front of the guests. “The specials are posted on the board on the far wall, do not ask me because I do not have them memorized and I won't, no matter how many times you ask me.”
Derek looks up from the table to take in the group, “Now, I need to see some ID before we order.”
The group looks at him with shock, confusion, and some mild amusement. No one moves until a handsome guy with perfect dimples drops his ID onto the table with a wink that Derek ignores in favor of checking his date of birth. Derek doesn’t bother checking the name or anything else just the age, dropping it when the guy is twenty-four.
“You know what, I appreciate the honesty and the efficiency, here you are good sir,” Derek barely resists the urge to roll his eyes at the comment and shifts his gaze over to the voice.
The owner of the voice is too busy telling some story to another member of the group, his hands and arms flailing in excitement while he shifts forward and back to emphasize his point. Derek falters at the way his amber eyes flicker in the dim bar lighting, two pools of honey whiskey that dance with mirth and joy making everything around him go silent. If he could manage to get over the pair of eyes, there’s also his upturned nose, and full pink lips that have Derek flustered and unable to speak or move.
“Uh, here’s my ID-”
The moles…Derek can’t break his gaze away from the splattering of moles on the guy's face and the way they vanish beneath his shirt collar. In all the time Derek takes to gawk, the noises and conversations filter back into his ears.
Derek has seen his share of beautiful people. The supernatural having their advantages and meeting so many packs from all over has assisted in that but this man…something about him is just different. He’s obviously attractive, with lanky yet toned arms, those damn freckles, and just his everything…but something about him is so captivating Derek can hardly breathe. His every move and phrase has Derek hooked without a hope for release.
A girl with long raven hair pokes the guy repeatedly until he stops his story to rub at the spot and look at her, “Fragile human you’re trying to poke to death Kira!”
All the awe rushes out of Derek with one snarky word; human.
“Fuck.”
The entire table turns their gaze on him, everyone including the doe-eyed human who tilts his head at him with a small smile on his perfect lips.
“Sorry, I’ll-back, back, I’ll, yeah.”
Derek spins away from the table, slamming into a random patron who curses at their spilled drink. He doesn’t apologize, doesn’t say anything, just rushes behind the bar and away from another possible mistake.
Humans. Why is it always the humans?
Derek refuses to work at the bar again after that. He begs his mother to help him out of it, something in his voice must show his desperation because Talia doesn’t argue or tell him that he’s being ridiculous. She simply agrees to deal with Peter and that is that. Derek should feel lighter, knowing that the night is over and the chances of him seeing the human again are slim to none but…
He’s never had very good luck and something in him that feels terrifyingly similar to his wolf says that it’s not the last time. At least he didn’t catch the guy’s scent. Derek can only imagine the ways the scent would haunt his every moment far worse than the imagery. He will never see the guy again and Derek is glad. It's a good thing.
Derek will keep telling himself it’s a good thing until he believes it. Every part of him.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Derek does not believe it and neither does his wolf. To the joy and turmoil of both, he sees the guy again once, twice, and well…you get the idea.