Struggling with a box I set it down when I heard the front door open. The store's grand opening was on Friday, no one should be here yet. "Hello?" When there was no answer I walked out of the back and saw him. I'd been avoiding Derek for the past two weeks and there he stood in the middle of my store. "We're not open yet," I said crossing my arms.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, "good thing I'm not here to shop."
"Then why are you here?"
Crossing the room he stopped when he saw me take a step back, "why do you think?"
"You know I was told to stay away from you."
"Really?" His jaw tensed, "by who?"
"Stiles and Scott. They say that you are trouble, but that is nothing I didn't already know."
Letting out a chuckle he closed the remaining distance between us and brushed a loose strand of hair from my face, "are you really going to listen to two teenagers?"
I lifted my eyes to stare up at him, "is there a reason I should?"
He backed away making me instantly miss his touch, "maybe." My heart ached for him. There was a sadness in his eyes. "Come by my place later?"
Tightening my arms around my body I just looked at him, "Stiles said that the county took control of your house."
A smile lifted the corner of his mouth, "so you've been talking about me?"
"No, I mean yes, but." I couldn't help but smile and shake my head, "shut up." He just laughed and walked backwards never breaking contact with me, "come over when you're done, please?" I nodded agreeing before he turned and left.
I stood in front of the door that led to Derek's new loft. It didn't take much to figure out where he was staying after I asked Stiles. He didn't like the idea of me going, but I told him it was just something I had to do. Lifting my hand I knocked on the large door and soon it was opened and Derek stood in front of me, "you came." There was a hint of surprise in his voice.
Walking straight past him I took in the room. The lone bed in the middle draped in black sheets that looked soft to the touch. A single table, a couch, and a coffee table all of the essential items needed. I didn't expect anything more. Spinning I quickly said, "why didn't you come back?" He froze in his spot after just closing the door. "I mean I understand that it was dangerous, but after Peter killed Kate and everything was resolved. I just thought-" I shook my head, "I just thought you'd come back."
"There was a lot more things I had to deal with after that."
"Like what? Make your own pack, become a big, bad and mighty alpha?" My voice was raising, "what about me? I waited for you. I cried myself to sleep thinking that something happened because I hadn't heard from you in months."
"Everly," he took a step towards me.
"No, Derek. You said you loved me that you wanted a life with me!" Tears filled my eyes, "were those all lies? Did the only thing you ever really want was power?"
He made his way over and tried to take my face in his hands, I fought back even shoving my hands against his hard chest. It was no use fighting something that had so much strength. I slammed my fists into his chest, "I loved you and you left me." Now the tears were rolling down my cheeks, "I hate you for leaving me." I slammed my fists into him again, "I hate you," I yelled again.
"Please," he whispered wiping the tears away, "please don't hate me. I can't stand the thought of you hating me."
I lifted my gaze to him, "you know what I couldn't stand? Being apart from you. You promised you'd come back for me. You couldn't even let me know you were safe. I loved you so much Derek that it consumed me."
His thumbs grazed my cheeks, "I still feel that way."
"No," I shoved him and because he was caught off guard he stumbled back. "You don't get to say those kind of things to me. You don't get to tell me that."
"But it is the truth." Now his voice was raised, "you want to know why I didn't come back for you? Because I wanted to make sure that I would be able to keep you safe before I brought you into this world. I've watched it kill my entire family. I couldn't stand the idea of it taking you from me too."
Moving quickly I crashed my lips to his. His arms snaked around my waist pulling me closer, as I stood on the tips of my toes to reach him. The tension slowly began to fade as we became lost in each other's touch and kiss. In one swift motion he scooped me up and I clung to him. My back met the velvety soft bedspread and his body hovered over mine. I ran my hand along his face. I loved him, nothing in the world was going to change that.
Waking I was snuggled close to Derek. Our legs were intertwined and he was breathing softly as he slept. I lifted my finger and traced the swirls of the tattoos between his shoulder blades. Sitting up I reached for the first article of clothing I could find which was one of his t-shirts. I pulled it over my head to cover my bare chest. Sliding my legs over I tried to make no movements before I stood, "where are you going?"
I turned to see blue eyes staring at me, "I didn't mean to wake you."
He sat up extending his arm and wrapping it around my waist before pulling me back to him, "you woke me the instant you touched me." He moved my curls to one side before placing a trail of kisses down my neck. I moaned softly as I leaned back into him.
"Derek," I said softly. Turning my face I met his lips and moved my legs so I was crawling back onto the bed and onto him. "You can't touch me like that."
He laid underneath me staring at me in awe, he growled as I kissed down his bare chest. Wrapping my curls around his fingers his gently tugs at my hair to pull my face back to his. Before things get any more heated than they already had the door opens and I pull back quickly enough that I fall off the bed and to the floor.
Derek wraps the sheets around his waist and helps me up. I stay hidden behind his tall frame as I see a man from the past, "what are you doing here?" Derek hisses as he grabs his clothing from the floor.
Peter Hale walks in with a smug smile, "it seems that I am interrupting. You're just lucky it was me and not one of your little teenage lackeys.
"Lucky me." Derek says sliding up his pants before walking over to grab a new shirt.
I stood frozen for a second before scurrying to pick up my clothes, "my you've grown up nice, Everly." I lift my head to see him walking towards me.
Derek instantly is back across the room and between the two of us, "don't take another step. Everly get dressed." Not having to tell me twice I quickly run into another area of the loft and get dressed as I hear Derek arguing with his uncle.
"How can you just sit still?!" I ask pacing across the floor. Derek and Scott had left to go to the bank. I wasn't fond of the idea of them trying to go up after this alpha pack in the first place. They were set in going to save Boyd and Erica, who Derek still would not believe to be dead. Yet alone when Peter and Stiles realized that they were walking into a death trap. I stopped and looked at Peter who sat on the winding staircase and Stiles was over on the couch, "Isn't there something we can do?"
"Lee, you need to relax." Stiles said and I took a deep breath. I had just gotten Derek back and the thought of losing him was too much for me to bear.
Just when I thought I was going to really go crazy the door opened and Derek and Scott came in. I flew across the room throwing my arms around Derek. He was caught off balance, but still wrapped his arms around me as I buried my face into his chest.
Pulling back I examined his healing wounds, "are you okay? Derek what happened?"
"Erica's dead."
I wrapped my arms around him, "I'm so sorry."
Stiles stood walking closer, "what about Boyd? And who was in the vault with him if Erica is dead?"
The next to speak was Scott, "Cora."
I took a step back and stared at Scott. It had been so long since I heard my best friend's name. "What? What did you say?" I turned to look up at Derek who was staring at me, "what is he talking about Derek?"
"Cora's alive, Everly."
