"Because it wouldn't have gone well, damn it. You guys had enough to deal with. What if I had lost control when we were fighting the Alphas? I could have gotten someone killed."

He frowned, looking down at his hands. "I've been back a couple of days. I know how to cover up my scent well enough that it takes that long for werewolves to scent me out." And yeah, maybe Derek had already figured it out--the fact he hadn't come by meant that maybe, really, he didn't want Stiles around.

At Isaac's comments, he looked up, eyes golden again. "You're what?" Isaac...he'd always had the pack, in one way or another, after he turned. He had Scott as his new best friend...Derek as a leader...the others as friends.