4.
Derek continued to walk in step with me, silent as he stared forward. The leaves were beginning to fall from the wispy trees that surrounded up, fall approaching. The thought of the season brought the scent of fresh pumpkins and cinnamon. My boots crunched, each sound making me cringe in the deafening silence between us. I kept my eyes downcast, worried if I was to look at him, he might breech the conversation again. I knew what the consequences would bring and I wondered if they were for the best. The feelings we had for each other wasn't real. It was purely chemistry and it was dangerous and unhealthy. We were intoxicated by emotions we weren't ready for, but our bodies screamed for more. It was for the best, maybe now I could actually get to know him, to actually know what it felt to fall in love. Not for some kind of fate to smash us together.
I frowned slightly as the trees grew thinner. Dying and coming back to life had changed my perspective more than I had realized. I was beginning to come to conclusion that I had to mature, alone, and apprehend what I was capable of, before I was able to protect him. I couldn't let him continue to put himself in harms way without someone backing him up. I wanted to be that. For him to count on me, to be his partner—equal.
Keeping my hands jammed in my jacket pockets, we were reaching a residential road. Houses on either side were still bright with lights and laughter was spilling out the slightly ajar windows. Derek sent me a worried look, but I ignored this, continuing to walk. I passed silently by Jackson's house, empty and dark. I stared at it for a moment before shrugging and walking away. I wondered what had happened to him, but memories resurfaced of the arrogant lacrosse player and I didn't care. I sent Derek a small smile before walking up the walk way to another empty home.
"Why are we here?" He asked, following me. I reached the door, breaking the lock to the house.
"There's just something I need here." He furrowed his eyebrows as I stepped through the threshold, eyes traveling over the entryway. I paused for a moment, looking behind at the man standing to close to me. I could feel the heat radiating off his body and I side-stepped further hoping it would dissipate. "Come on in." I ignored the gory memories that were invading my brain as I shut the door quietly behind him. I prayed that no one seen us breaking into this house.
I motioned for him to follow as I walked up the marble stairs. I passed by an empty room I had once laid my head to rest and let out a small sigh. The canopy bed I had before was ridiculous, but definitely better than the thin mattress I had grown accustomed to at Derek's warehouse. I walked a bit more, slipping into Stewart's old office. Everything was cleaned out, the desk, the bookshelves, his computer, everything that made him a success. Though, the thing I was looking for was supposedly hidden. Something the police would've passed right over. I walked to the freshly painted walls, letting my fingers run across the bumpy surface. I was looking for something to indicate there was a hidden safe, but found none.
I frowned before moving to the floor, this time using my wolf vision to see clearer. A small smile broke across my face when I found a small flaw, barely noticeable. I dropped to my knees, flicking out my claws. Painfully, I shoved them in between the boards, using my strength to bring the imperfect one up. Derek's eyebrows rose as he watched me peel board after board. He was leaning against the doorway, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. I looked up at him when it finally revealed a small safe. I pressed my ear to the frigid metal.
I listened carefully as I twisted the lock, waiting for the rest noises. Eventually, a low hiss erupted and I brought my head up. I ignored Derek as he sauntered over. The door opened, revealing thick folders and various papers held together with paper clips. I sat back, crossing my legs as I grabbed the stack and set them aside. I rifled through the papers for a moment.
A small squeal of happiness escaped my mouth as I came across something I wasn't expecting. I read the paper quickly, my hands trembling.
"What?" Derek asked annoyed. I looked up to see if his expression matched his voice. It did, indeed, glaring and his mouth screwed up in a frown. I rolled my eyes at him before handing the paper to him.
"Tala Rose Jameson." He read slowly. "December 2nd, 1995," He looked up, nodding. "Cool."
"Very," I agreed as he set the paper down next to me. I continued to rifle through the papers until a thick folder caught my attention. I read the first page silently. I quickly flipped through the other pages before deeming them unimportant. I straightened the papers I didn't need before setting them back in the safe, shutting it. I placed the boards back where they were before until it appeared untouched. I tucked a couple of folders underneath my arm, along with my birth certificate and nodded. "I got what I needed. We can go now."
Derek glared for a moment. "What's that?" He stared pointedly at the folders I had.
"Oh," I responded easily. "Just some papers about my birth parents." Even though this was a lie, it made me feel better, knowing I was keeping him in the dark.
"Well this is it."
Derek opened the thick metal door, revealing an open loft. The setting sun streamed through the huge window that over looked the warehouse district of Beacon Hills. It was a bare space, one king sized bed pushed to the corner. A desk was placed in front of the window with scattered papers on the surface. The room was punctured by a corkscrew staircase. I looked up, admiring the second floor. Derek stepped into the entrance, sliding the door shut behind us.
"Uh, big improvement. No subway cars, I see." I joked, hoping to ease the tension that was building between us.
He ignored me, walking further into the loft. A moment later, a voice called down to us. "Derek?" Moment later, my older best friend and Derek's beta, materialized in the second story. The young man's curly hair was ruffled as if he had just woken up. His clear blue eyes stared at me as he opened and shut his mouth from shock.
"No fucking way." He narrowed his eyes slightly before his lanky body shot down the stairs. I took a step back, startled, as he stood in front of me. His eyes searched my body, resting back at my eyes. He shook his head before throwing his arms around me and crushing me against his hard chest. "You're alive?!"
"Yup." I replied, somberly. I wasn't trying to ruin this happy moment for both of us, but the papers in my hand were just begging to be read. I was growing more intrigued with every passing second. I wanted nothing than to get comfortable and read them.
"How is this possible?! I watched you die!" Isaac sputtered for a moment, pulling away and staring at us, expecting an answer. I shrugged in response. "Josephine!"
I gritted my teeth. "Uh, I decided to change my name. Keep in mind Josephine is six feet under. We look too much alike to keep that name. It's Tala now." I explained quickly and tiredly.
"Oh, cool." He nodded, seeming a bit confused. Isaac opened his mouth to continue speaking, but Derek beat him to it.
He stood in front of the window, staring at us. "Leave her alone now. She's had a long day." Isaac turned around, shocked, staring at his alpha for a moment. Derek raised his eyebrows, daring the beta to challenge him. I squirmed away from Isaac, hoping that there wouldn't be a confrontation. Derek was already in a sour mood and was probably interested in a fight.
"Okay." Isaac pursed his lips, turning back to me. "Well, it's so good to see you. I can't believe this. Boyd and Erica—," He paused, his face visibly paling. In the awkward silence, he wrapped his arms around me once more before disappearing up the stairs
"Thank you." I told Derek. He nodded, turning away. I walked over the desk, dropping down on the seat and placing my folders on the desk. "Really, for everything,"
"Don't mention it."
"Derek—,"
"Listen, I've got a couple things to do." He interrupted me, grabbing his leather jacket from where he had thrown it on the bed. "If you need to sleep, you can use this bed. Your stuff is in that corner," he pointed, "and I should be back in a couple of hours." He took long steps to the door and I went to stand up.
"Hey—,"
"Isaac's here if you need anything." He shut the door.
I sat back down, defeated. I wanted to speculate on how I could mend our relationship, but before I could, my hand was already reaching for the folders.
Hey there guys! I'm sorry for the wait in between chapters, but I've been busy. Getting more hours at work so I can get everyone presents, helping my friend get a job, applying for college and dealing with everything with that, spending time with family/friends/boyfriend and having time to write! Luckily, I will be taking a trip next week and I will be bringing my laptop, so I can write on the car ride! And I will work on time management. Haha, anyway, I hope you like this chapter. What do you think is in the folders? I apologize if the story line is a little fuzzy and confusing, it'll all be explained in the next chapter. Please review, favorite, follow and whatever your heart desires. And I will see you guys when I see you guys.