Getting To Know Each Other

Jackson POV:

At the end of the party, I walked both girls to the car.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” I ask Mia as she gets in the car.

“Nothing.”

“How about I go pick you guys up in the morning, we usually have breakfast here with Derek, then we, um, exercise together.”

“Oh, yeah, Derek mentioned something to me earlier.” Emma adds.

Mia looks at her sister and Emma only shrugs.

“You guys are all really close, right?” She asks me.

“Yes, we’re like a family.”

She smiles.

“Well, okay, if it’s okay with Derek.” She tells me and I nod.

“I’ll pick you up at seven.” I tell her and close the door.

There was something in Mia. Something that attracted me to her, and it didn’t feel the same as when I was with Lydia.

It was different. Like a pull to her, but I could tell that she didn’t feel the same way. And that hurt.

*

Peter POV:

I saw the way Jackson reacted Mia. And I recognized it. He had found his other mate.

The only problem was that Mia didn’t want to accept him. I could sense that in her.

And that could seriously hurt Jackson’s wolf. Being rejected by his mate was something that could damage him.

“Give her time.” I told him as I neared him.

“What?”

“Woo her, talk to her more, have her fall in love with you. Just don’t push to hard.”

“I didn’t ask for advice old man.”

I smirked as he walked away. Tonight I would be staying with the pack. We were all staying at the house with Derek.

Those girls had just come to Beacon Hills, not knowing what they would find.

I still hadn’t talked to them enough to know their story. And it did bother me, that they were living on their own.

So young, and already, Mia had taken to caring for her sister. All without  a family.

I knew that Derek had already fallen for Emma. His wolf had called out to her, and she seemed to be willing to be with him. She hadn’t rejected him although he was older than her.

I saw the glint in her eyes when she looked at him. Much like Stiles had fallen for that angry wolf.

I wondered how all that would work out. I knew Derek felt something for him too.

I went inside the house and found all the pups sitting together with Stiles in the center.

He grounded us. Our human. Well, our human so far. Danny was Ethan’s mate, but he was still in the dark.

Derek still didn’t want to bring him into the loop.

I smiled at them. We finally had a family. Even if it was a bunch of teenagers.

“What are you smiling about, zombie wolf?” Stiles asked. “Looks like your planning something evil.” He smiled.

“No, nothing.” I sat in between his legs on the floor next to Jackson.

This was nice. Here, in this place, we could just be each other.

Even Lydia seemed to be having a good time. She was sitting on Aidens lap on the floor.

We were watching Van Helsing.

“Let me guess, Stiles chose the movie?” I said laughing and earned a kick from the boy.

“Just shut up and watch it!” He said and settled again.

*

Mia POV:

“I don’t know..” I told my frowning sister.

She had been trying to convince me to go have breakfast with her friends.

“Besides, you already said yes to Jackson. You cant back out now.” Emma told me.

“I don’t feel comfortable around all of them. Isn’t weird how close they all are. I mean, it’s creepy.”

“No it isn’t. They’re just close friends.”

“I….”

Then the door bell rang.

“Too late!” Emma called out to me.

We had been in my room, where she was picking out clothes for me. We were both wearing our sweats.

“Common, let’s go! Jackson is here.” She said and pulled me out of the room.

“Hey, Jackson.” I said trying to smile. “Is it okay if we’re dressed like this.. Or should we change?”

“No, that’s fine. Like I said, we’ll be taking a run around the forest that surrounds the house after breakfast if you want to join us.”

I nod and grab my keys.

“What are you doing? I’ll take you.” Jackson tells me.

“I appreciate that, but I feel more comfortable taking the car. In case I need to leave or something. I don’t want to burden you.”

“Nonsense. Just tell me if you want to come back early. I’ll bring you.” He insisted.

I looked at Emma and she silently pleaded with me.

“Fine.” I said and locked the door.

We got into the Porsche. Jackson seemed to be beaming since I accepted.

Once we arrived, Emma was practically pushing me to walk faster. Derek greeted us by the porch.

Emma practically threw herself at him and he caught her. Stiles next to him was laughing.

I frowned. I didn’t like the way she acted around him. That and the fact that he was five years older than her.

Jackson took my hand and squeezed it. It actually felt really nice. It helped me control myself.

Peter came out and greeted us.

I actually felt comfortable knowing he was here. For some reason I felt more safer.

He hugged me slightly and smiled.

“Well, come on.. Are we all just staying our here? The pancakes are getting cold. Well, whatever is left. Those pu.. Kids, are hogging them down.” He told us.

After we had breakfast and chatted a bit, Derek told them that they were increasing their run. Instead of it being one lap it would be two.

They all frowned but didn’t argue.

“How many miles is it?” I asked Peter.

“Roughly around 100.”

I looked at Emma. He followed my gaze.

“She’s only run around 45 miles. And just barely.”

“Don’t worry. It’s the same for Stiles. They can turn around and start lunch.” He smiled at me. “What about you?”

“I’ll be fine.” I smiled at him.

“Really?” He smiled back.

“I may not be too fast, but I can certainly maintain myself up to you guys.” I smirked.

“I wouldn’t be surprised. I’ve seen you jogging, remember?”

I smile to him. He walks out together with me.

“Is this something you guys do often?” I ask him.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“It keeps us in shape.” He winks and moves closer to Derek.

“Hey, once you get tired, just stop, okay.” I tell Emma.

“She can go back with me. I get tired quick. These guys are just too much for me.” Stiles adds.

“Okay, at least I know I’m not the only one who will be coming back first.” She says and smiles wrapping her arm around Stiles.

“Alright, remember, we’ll try to finish the run within an hour.” Derek announced.

“Hey, I think you might have a shot.” Emma tells me.

“Shut up.” I tell her and push her.

“Those of you who cannot keep up, come back to the house and start lunch.” Derek continues.

“You ready?” Peter comes next to me.

I nod. And he pulls me into his sprint.

We all start running together, then Derek goes in the front, followed by Aiden and Ethan. Peter, Jackson, Cora and me are just behind them, Boyd,  Erica, Scott and Isaac are just behind us and behind them Stiles and Emma.

“Lydia doesn’t run?” I ask Jackson.

“No. She says she can maintain herself.” He smirks.

“She stays behind and cleans the kitchen.” Peter adds.

Thirty minutes into the run and I look back. Stiles and Emma are no longer with us.

“Don’t worry. They’re back home.” Peter tells me. “I’ll give you $100 if you beat Derek.”

“What?”

“You heard me.” He smirks. “I know you can.”

This was our second turn. In a few miles we would be done.

“Peter..” Jackson told him.

“Well, are you going to try?” Derek called from the front. I had no idea how he had heard us.

I nodded and moved forward. I broke into the run once I reached Derek and he laughed.

We both ran together. He frowned when I would keep up with his pace. I could see the house.

“Don’t hold out, Derek.” I told him. He laughed and sprinted forward. I managed to clutch his shirt and pulled him back. I heard the thud as he hit the ground.

I ran ahead of him and got to the house first.

The others were laughing. Jackson came and I allowed him to lift me up.

“You were amazing.” He told me.

Once he put me down, Peter hugged me and spinned me around.

“I think you owe me some money.” I told him as I panted into his chest.

“You’re good.” Derek told me and patted my back.

“Takes training.” I told him and smiled.

I sat on the porch steps catching my breath. Jackson was next to me, while the others went inside.

“How long have you been training?”

“I don’t know.. For a long time. I began, when my uncle.. Well, things weren’t going to good at home, so I would jog, you know, to clear my head. Then it just became a routine.”

“You can talk to me, you know that, right? About anything.” He seemed sincere.

“It’s hard for me, you know, to talk.”

“Then we’ll start slow.” He took my hand in his and gave it a light squeeze.

Derek POV:

Emma was in the kitchen with Stiles and Lydia.

“So, I take it you guys already showered?” I asked them.

“Of course, we wouldn’t be in the kitchen otherwise, sour wolf.” Stiles said casually.

“Sour wolf?” Emma asked.

“It’s a nick name Stiles gave Derek because he’s always so grouchy.” Lydia told her.

Emma didn’t seem convinced but nodded.

“Derek, I let Emma use your shower.” Stiles told me.

“That’s fine.” I told him and went upstairs.

We needed to be more careful on how we acted around these girls. They had no idea what we were.

I would need to talk to Stiles about it.

“Derek?” Stiles came and reached me by the stairs. “Hey, I slipped, sorry.”

I touched his cheek and kissed him lightly.

“It’s okay. We just need to be more careful.”

“She’s our mate, isn’t she?”

I smiled at him. He had figured it out.

“I felt it when you touched her.” He continued and smiled, “I really think we should tell her, well, them, about us. Just like Ethan should tell Danny.”

“Not yet, Stiles. You know it’s dangerous. Especially if others were to find out about them. I already worry about you.”

He leaned in and kissed me deeply.

“Alright, your choice.” He said and walked back downstairs