xxvi. TIMES TICKING
Derek Hale |
DEREK PACED BACK AND FORTH IN THE LIVING ROOM OF THE PACK HOUSE. He had gotten out of the pack meeting early only to find out his lovely mate decided to leave the community. Without any thought of telling him or asking for permission. He was both extremely worried and furious. Worried about her safety knowing Xavier and Gerard were out there. Furious because she knew the rules and disobeyed him. Again.
The last thing he wanted was to backtrack in their relationship. He was getting better at controlling his wolf and being extremely lenient with her. Still with her life and the community at jeopardy, he had every right to use his power to control her. He's rather her be mad at him than find her dead. The thought alone terrified and infuriated him.
His eyes immediately darted to her walking in with Jamie right behind her. His first instinct was to yell at her and flip out. Instead, he pulled her into his arms and buried his face into her neck to inhale her scent. It relaxed him but still his wolf was growling at her for leaving without telling him.
"I expected you to scream at me," She mumbled, wrapping her arms around his torso and closing her eyes at the warmth surrounding her.
"Trust me, I wanted to. But I'm learning to be better. For us." He spoke quietly to her, giving Jamie a pointed look as to say he would deal with him later. The beta nodded, glancing at Azalea before leaving the pack house.
She frowned, "I'm sorry. I just needed to get out and do something on my own even though Jamie came with me."
"I know you hate being stuck here in one place but I can't risk anything happening to you. Once the whole thing with Xavier is done, everything will go the way it should've." He peeled himself away from her, cupping her cheeks in his warm hands.
"Does this means I'm on lockdown again?" She asked.
He nodded making her pout and push his hands off of her. He huffed at her reaction shaking his head. "Azalea, please just trust me. I promise as soon as Xavier is taken care of it'll be okay and back to normal."
"Nothing in my life will ever be normal again!" She cried out, running her fingers through her golden brown hair as she let out a sigh.
He was taken back by her outburst, her words hurting him slightly. "I–I'm sorry." He felt a mixture of hurt and guilt swarming him.
"I didn't mean it like that, Derek." She shook her head.
"How else could you have meant it then?" He snapped at her while sending a glare in her direction. "I'm sorry I ruined your life, Azalea. I really am. I'm sorry the universe chose us to be mates. There's nothing I can do about that!"
"Der–"
"No!" He shouted at her making her flinch and step away from him. "You have no idea the amount of guilt I live with everyday because of what happened and how I gave into my wolf. How badly I terrified you and made you hate me. You say you forgive me but I don't believe that when you always throw it in my face!" He continued, his words shocking her greatly.
"I'm sorry." She whispered after a few moments, trying to ignore the tears burning her eyes as she stared at him.
He sucked in a sharp breath as he moved his gaze from the floor to her. His wolf whined at the tears in her eyes wanting nothing more than to comfort her. "I need to know Azalea, do you want to be with me? Because I can't be with someone I love with everything in me who doesn't love me." He gave her one last look before walking away from her.
"I never imagined my own mate hating me." He spoke in a softer tone before he stomped up the stairs and to his office, slamming the door closed behind him. He sat down at his desk, hiding his face in his hands while fighting back the whining wolf inside him, urging him to be with his mate. To not let her go. But his human side overpowered.
He hated how every time they're going good, their relationship going in the right directions, something always goes wrong. He was tired of it. There was nothing he wanted more than to be perfectly happy with her. With nothing hovering over their backs, no danger looming above them. If he could go back in time and not have acted the way he did, he would go back in a heartbeat. Without even a second thought. But what's done is done.
"Are you okay? Why are you crying?" The concerning voice of Lydia asked Azalea. Derek put his entire focus on their conversation, using his heightened senses to eavesdrop on her. "Did Derek do something?"
"No, he didn't. Well we got into a fight." Azalea sniffled, her congested voice from crying making Derek's wolf growl angrily at him for walking away so easily.
"Typical." Victoria mumbled. "Azalea, it's not fair the way he keeps making you feel like this and expect you to be his mate."
"Victoria, he didn't do anything wrong okay?! I did! I said something I shouldn't have said and it's more than him being possessive and protective." Azalea defended her mate, her voice strong as she found this new sudden anger whenever someone speaks poorly on Derek.
"What happened? Was it about you leaving the community earlier without telling him?" Allison jumped in.
"Yes and no. I mean I was completely fine, Jamie came with me but it wasn't necessarily that." Azalea answered, sniffling again. "I didn't realize I keep throwing the fact of what happened and how I won't get a normal life in his face. I–I didn't realize I've been hurting him when he's trying so hard to fix it and make up for it." Her voice wavered as she explained to them what happened.
Lydia sighed, "None of this was ever going to be easy. Honestly, we were all surprised when you decided to give him another chance after what happened."
"I'm scared." Azalea whispered. "I–I'm scared because every day I become more and more attached to him. I'm terrified because I'm falling in love with him."
Derek's eyes widened as his heart rate picked up in his chest. He then realized she was holding on to the fact of what he did to mask her true feelings for him. All because she was terrified for falling in love with him. It all made sense now and he was beginning to feel like a complete asshole for what he said earlier to her.
So badly did he want to go downstairs and swoop her into his arm and shower her with love. But if there was one thing he learned in the beginning, it was she needed her space. That she would come to him when she's ready. Pushing her will only push her away and he did not want that at all. Patience was the key to her giving in to the bond to begin with and he would never stop being patient with her.
He decided to stop listening in on their conversation needing to focus on the bigger issue. Xavier and Gerard. It was getting closer to the full moon then he would have only seventy two hours until Gerard will carry out whatever plan he has. He would focus on his girl once they were both six feet under.
"Dude, you know your mate is upset right? Looked like she was crying when she left with Lydia, Allison, and Victoria." Shawn barged into Derek's office, plopping down on one of the chairs and making himself comfortable.
Derek glared at him, "I know. Don't remind me."
"Oh..." He trailed awkwardly. "Did–did you say or do something?"
"It's fine, we're fine." Derek said in annoyance. "We need to end this on the night of the full moon when we're at our strongest. When our blood thirst is high."
Shawn nodded, "Agreed. But what about Azalea? Xavier and Gerard are after her. They'll think you won't leave her side as the Alpha has to be with their mate during the full moon."
"I don't know." Derek sighed, rubbing his face stressfully. "I was thinking about sending warriors with her to the Hale house. But I don't want to risk it incase Gerard or Xavier finds her."
"What about Allison? You still want her to sit out of this fight?" Shawn asked.
"It's what's best. Gerard brainwashed her before. There's no way I'm taking any chances. I'm still cautious about her." The Alpha grumbled, not wanting to think about the time Gerard brainwashed his granddaughter for power.
"I don't blame you. So the only ones who know Gerard is behind everything were the ones you called to the meeting?" Derek nodded at him.
"Yes. The less people that know the better. I can't have anyone potentially telling Azalea anything. I need her to feel as safe as possible." Derek told him, leaning back in his chair and cracking his neck.
Shawn was quiet for a few moments before an idea came to mind and his head snapped up. "I have the perfect idea."
"What is it?"
"Gerard and Xavier, they don't know the location of my pack and territory. I'll send her back with my right hand man, my top Beta, to protect her while we all fight." Shawn explained, a proud smirking settling onto his features.
Derek looked at his close ally and someone he calls a brother. Maybe there was hope after all. "That plan actually sounds perfect. Just give me time to talk with Azalea."
"Alright but we don't have much time. I'll let my territory know the plan."
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ahhhh i'm SO excited for what's to come. what do you all think will happen? and what do we think about derek AND azalea admitting their feelings? though azalea didn't tell derek to his face like he did to her.
we're a few more chapters away from entering act 3 and trust me, things are only going to get crazier. so stay tuned and be sure to vote and comment what you think will happen! see y'all soon!
Xx