[ Tate shuts him down. Tate shuts him down, and Derek doesn't think he even realizes he's doing it. He's responding to Derek's quiet offer of acceptance in danger by being disgusted and pulling away, openly declaring that he doesn't want that. That he doesn't want to be like Derek. Tate wants to stay with his own kind. He wants the universal potential and understated complacency of humanity, not the coarse and predatory life of a wolf.

Derek needs a second to process Tate's repulsion and filter it through layer after layer of reasoning, just so he doesn't dwell on this as a personal rejection. It takes him a few false starts before he can figure out what he wants to say, and he keeps his voice quiet and measured and simple to avoid breaking the ice he feels he's standing on. ]

You can be dangerous and still belong. There isn't anything wrong with being able to protect yourself or the people you love. Sometimes you have to hurt other people, or - or do bad things, if it means keeping the people you love happy and safe.

[ Derek's eyebrows pinch together, and his hands feel vacant, now that he's not holding Tate's wrist. He rubs his biceps like he's cold, folds his arms over his chest, stares down at Tate's feet. ]

Good people can be dangerous. Good people can do bad things. You can still fit in, even if you haven't... mastered self-control. That's what I think.