Chapter One
Dani has been staring at Derek's face from quite some time now. He looks so content, so peaceful in his sleep. Dear lord, but Derek definitely needs a little "boredom" in his life after what he's been through—and what he continues to face given his birthright.
She and Derek had been together for six months now, and he had been quite honest from the start that the blood running in his veins is all human. Why, she'd seen him in his naked glory on their first meeting in the Beacon Hills preserve with Derek shape shifting from his wolf form to his human form.
Dani doesn't know what's gotten into her for wanting to go into the woods at night. She then wished she didn't as she found herself being chased by an apparent supernatural creature for midnight snack. She had a few not too deep scratches which Derek healed at once after he shape shifted. She could swear though that she was more shocked seeing Derek's naked body, than learning that a werewolf—and some other supernatural creatures actually exist.
A few weeks after their meeting, she found herself fully drawn to the 'big bad wolf', ultimately leading to their relationship. Everything has been good—until she overheard Derek talking to an Argent, presumably Chris.
"Argent. Are you still pursuing the hunt for your sister with the Calaveras?" She heard Derek ask the person in the other line. Argent. Calavera. She felt like hyperventilating at the realization that's slowly dawning on her.
Derek had mentioned of an ex-girlfriend, Kate Argent, who's from a family of werewolf hunters. The family name had then sounded oddly familiar, but it's only now that it dawned on her that she had a playmate who goes by the name of Allison Argent. She had met Allison's parents as well, Aunt Victoria and Uncle Chris. She wasn't even ten when she last saw Allison and her parents, almost totally forgetting about the particular Argent family already.
Dani knows that her family, the Calaveras, have been associated with the Argents through a common interest—hunting. But now that Derek put Argent, Calavera, and hunt together, things start to sound not too good on her. Her grandmother Araya said no more details of her family's long tradition of hunting—and Dani just assumed that it was the traditional, all too normal hunting for wild animals. It would seem though that the Calaveras, are in fact, werewolf hunters like the Argents.
And Dani is apparently one of them. She confirmed it after her short trip back to Mexico. She just had to confirm her hunch—and she did. Dani's grandmother, Araya, had a shelf in the library that was restricted for her access. She never bothered with it before, albeit she has always been curious as to why her Abuela seems so sneaky about it.
She was able to access the secret shelf—and skim through the books, apparently some of which were centuries-old. She found a bestiary, a book on the Calavera family's history—as hunters, that is. This is one discovery about her family that she will never be comfortable with for she knows that Derek could hate her for it.
Derek had sworn that he will never trust any hunter again—save for one (Chris Argent, apparently). This though is only because he's been through enough with this particular hunter that he's earned Derek's respect and trust. Dani doubts though that she and Derek would still be fine once he learns of who she really is.
Dani shook her head, and decided to keep these things out of her mind—for now. She then joined Derek under the sheets, facing him. Derek stirred, possessively placing his arm around her waist. She let herself be enveloped in the warmth of his body.
x
"'Morning, beautiful." Derek's head was nuzzled in her neck, his lips working their way to planting soft kisses. "I startled you. You're so immersed in your thoughts."
God, Derek noticing that she's quite jumpy is the last thing she'd want. Dani doesn't think she can keep anything from him—Derek can surely tell when someone's lying.
"My grad school application, among other things." It was half the truth.
Derek straightened his back, though his arms were still around her waist as she continued preparing their breakfast. "Oh, C'mon. That's nothing you should be worrying about. You'd get in in every and any school you applied to, sweetheart."
She chuckled. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mr. Hale. It means a lot, really."
At 20, Dani has already completed a bachelor's degree in Physics. She's currently engaged in research and consultancy works, but she intends to enroll in graduate school—the very reason why she's in Beacon Hills. She has sent applications to prominent universities in California, as well as in UK (where she finished her undergraduate program). Dani really initially eyed Cambridge, and only considered US universities at the prodding of her grandmother.
"Hija mia, you've been away from abuela too long. I will miss you even more should you live overseas again. Por favor, consider universities in California—it's nearer for abuela so I can visit you more often."
Derek, of course, has become an even more significant reason for her to want to stay.
"All-morning cuddle after breakfast, hmmm?" Derek said teasingly, making Dani laugh and blush at the same time.
She turned around to face Derek without breaking his embrace. "Just cuddle, hmmm?" She planted a soft kiss on his lips. She knows though that Derek's mind is beyond all-morning pure cuddle.
It was his turn to laugh—and kiss her.
Ah, Dani knows she has to tell Derek—soon. She can only hope that her being a Calavera doesn't change everything and turn for the worst scenario possible. Wishful thinking, Dani.
Chapter One
Dani has been staring at Derek's face from quite some time now. He looks so content, so peaceful in his sleep. Dear lord, but Derek definitely needs a little "boredom" in his life after what he's been through—and what he continues to face given his birthright.
She and Derek had been together for six months now, and he had been quite honest from the start that the blood running in his veins is all human. Why, she'd seen him in his naked glory on their first meeting in the Beacon Hills preserve with Derek shape shifting from his wolf form to his human form.
Dani doesn't know what's gotten into her for wanting to go into the woods at night. She then wished she didn't as she found herself being chased by an apparent supernatural creature for midnight snack. She had a few not too deep scratches which Derek healed at once after he shape shifted. She could swear though that she was more shocked seeing Derek's naked body, than learning that a werewolf—and some other supernatural creatures actually exist.
A few weeks after their meeting, she found herself fully drawn to the 'big bad wolf', ultimately leading to their relationship. Everything has been good—until she overheard Derek talking to an Argent, presumably Chris.
"Argent. Are you still pursuing the hunt for your sister with the Calaveras?" She heard Derek ask the person in the other line. Argent. Calavera. She felt like hyperventilating at the realization that's slowly dawning on her.
Derek had mentioned of an ex-girlfriend, Kate Argent, who's from a family of werewolf hunters. The family name had then sounded oddly familiar, but it's only now that it dawned on her that she had a playmate who goes by the name of Allison Argent. She had met Allison's parents as well, Aunt Victoria and Uncle Chris. She wasn't even ten when she last saw Allison and her parents, almost totally forgetting about the particular Argent family already.
Dani knows that her family, the Calaveras, have been associated with the Argents through a common interest—hunting. But now that Derek put Argent, Calavera, and hunt together, things start to sound not too good on her. Her grandmother Araya said no more details of her family's long tradition of hunting—and Dani just assumed that it was the traditional, all too normal hunting for wild animals. It would seem though that the Calaveras, are in fact, werewolf hunters like the Argents.
And Dani is apparently one of them. She confirmed it after her short trip back to Mexico. She just had to confirm her hunch—and she did. Dani's grandmother, Araya, had a shelf in the library that was restricted for her access. She never bothered with it before, albeit she has always been curious as to why her Abuela seems so sneaky about it.
She was able to access the secret shelf—and skim through the books, apparently some of which were centuries-old. She found a bestiary, a book on the Calavera family's history—as hunters, that is. This is one discovery about her family that she will never be comfortable with for she knows that Derek could hate her for it.
Derek had sworn that he will never trust any hunter again—save for one (Chris Argent, apparently). This though is only because he's been through enough with this particular hunter that he's earned Derek's respect and trust. Dani doubts though that she and Derek would still be fine once he learns of who she really is.
Dani shook her head, and decided to keep these things out of her mind—for now. She then joined Derek under the sheets, facing him. Derek stirred, possessively placing his arm around her waist. She let herself be enveloped in the warmth of his body.
x
"'Morning, beautiful." Derek's head was nuzzled in her neck, his lips working their way to planting soft kisses. "I startled you. You're so immersed in your thoughts."
God, Derek noticing that she's quite jumpy is the last thing she'd want. Dani doesn't think she can keep anything from him—Derek can surely tell when someone's lying.
"My grad school application, among other things." It was half the truth.
Derek straightened his back, though his arms were still around her waist as she continued preparing their breakfast. "Oh, C'mon. That's nothing you should be worrying about. You'd get in in every and any school you applied to, sweetheart."
She chuckled. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mr. Hale. It means a lot, really."
At 20, Dani has already completed a bachelor's degree in Physics. She's currently engaged in research and consultancy works, but she intends to enroll in graduate school—the very reason why she's in Beacon Hills. She has sent applications to prominent universities in California, as well as in UK (where she finished her undergraduate program). Dani really initially eyed Cambridge, and only considered US universities at the prodding of her grandmother.
"Hija mia, you've been away from abuela too long. I will miss you even more should you live overseas again. Por favor, consider universities in California—it's nearer for abuela so I can visit you more often."
Derek, of course, has become an even more significant reason for her to want to stay.
"All-morning cuddle after breakfast, hmmm?" Derek said teasingly, making Dani laugh and blush at the same time.
She turned around to face Derek without breaking his embrace. "Just cuddle, hmmm?" She planted a soft kiss on his lips. She knows though that Derek's mind is beyond all-morning pure cuddle.
It was his turn to laugh—and kiss her.
Ah, Dani knows she has to tell Derek—soon. She can only hope that her being a Calavera doesn't change everything and turn for the worst scenario possible. Wishful thinking, Dani.