Stiles just grins and sticks his tongue out, but keeps up the slow petting through Derek's hair. It's as calming for him as much as it is for the alpha.

"You mean a lot to me too," he says. "A lot, like, really a lot." He's wanted to say those words, those three one syllable words but he doesn't know if that's yet what he feels. But the more he's with Derek, in moments like these, the more those words feel right.

"Does it ever... I don't know, bother you? That I'm human?"