Biting the Silver Bullet

By wolfgal97

Chapter Nine

Isn't That Peachy

Where were we? Oh yeah. I was dangling from an alpha's claw like a Bass Pro decoration. I couldn't see anything, but I could feel everything.

I could feel the razor sharp claws ripping through my back. I could feel the arm of the beast brushing past my spine. I could feel my lungs puncture and the blood begin to pool in throat, bubbling up my mouth with a hot, rusty taste. I felt my skin tear as he tossed me into a wall. I felt some bones break as the impact sent waves of fresh pain through me. I could feel death.

I heard Stiles and Scott yelling in fear and their feet pounding the ground as they ran away. I felt something warm gently probe me and I waited for the alpha to finish me off. But the touch was too light to be a killing beast. It was warm and comforting. It was Derek.

"It's okay, Regan. I know this will hurt, I got to get you out of here fast before he comes back." With feather hands, he picked me up and ran with a smooth rhythm. I felt myself being lowered into a car seat, and even though he was being gentle, it hurt like hell. Everything ached and I just wanted to pass out.

"Derek..."

"Shh, don't talk. Try to sleep. You'll heal faster." And I did just that, letting a shade overtake me.

The next thing I remember was waking up on a bed. the light burned my eyes, but I fought to focus. I took in the fact the room I was in was scorched by flame and I felt safe instantly. Derek's house was safe.

And that's when I began to feel my body again. The ache in my back, the pounding in my head, the feeling of my flesh mending together. It all was one big pain. All I wanted was a relief.

I searched my mind for the last thing I could remember. I remember looking into glowing red eyes that lusted for blood. I recall arguing with my wolf over my own emotions. And then I remember him. The calm that came with knowing he was safe.

Speaking of Trouble, where was he? "Derek?"

Ohh, note to self; talking hurts. Before I knew what was going on, he was there. A hand rested on my head and it began stroking my hair. I twisted around enough to see Derek was sitting in a chair next to my bed. "Regan... I'm here."

I leaned into his touch, enjoying the warmth on my skin. Everything felt awful. It was like someone had run me over with a monster truck, poked my eyeballs out, pulled out my inner organs and left me with a horrible sunburn.

"Why did you do that, you stupid girl? Why did you get between that monster and me? You shouldn't have done that." He wasn't really asking it, he was just talking and letting off frustration the way guys do.

"Because I'm a stupid girl trying to keep a stupid boy safe?" It came out as a gasp, but it was worth it. If I didn't get my sarcasm out, there was something very wrong with me. Sarcasm showed I would live.

He sighed, not wanting to argue. "How much pain are you in?"

"On a scale of one to ten? Eleven to the tenth power."

A deep warning rumble came from the back of his throat. "That should be me..."

My hand reached up and held on to his. "I made the choice to jump between you and the alpha. It's not your fault, so don't throw a pity party. I'll live."

"Regan, you haven't even made your first change yet. You may not of healed as fast as I do. We got lucky your body is taking in the wolf gene so well."

"We?" Did he really care that much if I lived or died? I mean, I got the fact he turned me into a werewolf to save me the first time, but if I keep getting into situations like this, then why would he bother after a while.

"Yes, we," he said, not meeting my eyes. We were getting into rough territory of conversation. I could see that and respected it. Even though I didn't want to.

"Derek, I'm going to miss school. Can we speed this healing thing up? Or at least make it less... well..." I didn't want to complain about how much it hurt just to breath. He didn't need that.

"The school is closed due to damages done by the alpha. Scott, Stiles, and a few other teens that got stuck inside the other night made out. I would have gone back in to help, but you needed more attention at the time. You were... it was pretty bad, Regan. I didn't know if you could come back from it."

I smiled through my cracked lips and began rubbing my thumb on his hand again. "I'm fine, Derek. Or at least, I will be. I'm just glad you're safe. And, you know, Scott and Stiles, too."

"You said you were in pain."

"No I didn't."

"We'll, I assumed it from how you asked if I could make the healing process less... there's a possible way, but it's a little weird."

"Anything is better than this. What do you have in mind?"

He forced himself to look at me. I could tell it was a task and he was stealing himself for something hard. "Wolves are... well... comforted... by physical contact. The more the better. If you want, I could hold you for a while. It may help..." Derek continued to ramble about the wolfly benefits of cuddling. All I could think is Score!

I interrupted him, seeing as he was still babbling on in a very professional manor. Not. "Sounds great to me."

He froze in mid-word, his mouth still hanging open. "You... really? You want that?"

"Yeah. Anything to feel better than this." I patted the bed next to me and he slowly laid himself down. The length of his body ran down mine, sending chills of pleasure down me.

"Cold?" Derek asked, instinctively snuggling into me. I almost grinned in joy and leaned into him. My arm came and wrapped out his chest, getting closer to him.

Oh my gosh, I'm in man meat heaven! I felt all his muscles taunt beneath the warm, marble skin. I, Regan Snow, am cuddling beta werewolf, Derek I'm-sexy-and-I-know-it Hale. Maybe I should get mortally wounded more often.

I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling my ribs grate as I rolled to the side. I didn't care. I was happy. For once, another person had made me happy. Made me feel like I could trust them. This was so unreal, I had to ask, "Am I dreaming?"

I felt a rumble of a silent laugh from the chest being used as my pillow. "Why would I be in one of you dreams?"

"Well..." I could feel myself blushing and burred my face into his side before mummbling my answer. "Mm drmmmmd bhmmnt ymmmn bmphrrr."

"Sorry, Regan. I don't speak your new language." I rolled my eyes, but separated my face from him long enough to whisper it out nervously.

"I've dreamed about you before."

Silence. Total and pure silence. It scared the crap out of me.

Please don't laugh. Please don't laugh. Please don't laugh. Please-

"I've had dreams of you, as well."

My eyes shot open at this. Derek had dreamed of me? Now I really wanted to melt into a puddle of goop. But I played it cool. "Oh, really now? What was I doing in your dreams?"

He thought for a moment, remembering. "It's always the same one. In my dream, you keep calling for me. I run through the woods trying to find you and when I do, you just smile and walk away."

Something in his voice sounded hurt. Would me being gone affect him?

"I wouldn't do that. I'm not planning on leaving you anytime soon. Especially when we've grown so close," I say in a flirty tone, snuggling even closer to him. 'mate,' the wolf said. Though I told it no, I had a harder time denying it.

"You won't?" Why did he sound so hopeful?

I looked up to him, angling my face on his shoulder to meet his eyes. "No, I won't. Derek, I like you. A lot. More than-"

Pain.

Sheer, complete pain.

And I screamed.

My ribs were grinding, moving around into a fine powder. Oh my gosh, this was more painful than the alpha's attack. Out of reflex, I rolled onto my back away from Derek's strong comforting arms to grimace and hiss as my hips lifted up, trying to relieve any of the pain. Using what control I had, I lifted the edge of my shirt to take a peek at what was going on with my bones. What I saw horrified me.

Under my skin, I could see my ribs rippling as they cracked back into place. Muscles moved and tore so they could heal in the right spot. I saw them pop and could feel them grate together with a sickening "churrrrgggg!" I was healing rapidly, but it hurt like hell.

Derek took action and pressed my shoulders down so I didn't writhe the wrong way and hurt myself further. Instantly, the pain lessened under his firm touch. Eventually, the pain slacked off and became a bearable dull throb. Back into his embrace I went and for the moment was as happy as I could get. I don't know when I blacked out again, but I didn't care. I was at Derek's house, in Derek's arms. I knew I was safe.

Okay, Regan. Stop passing out so you can enjoy every bit of this you can. 'Cause it's not every day you get to use a werewolf as a pillow. When I woke up this time, I could feel my body was less achy than before. The cut from the claws had closed and left a pink scar that was fading too. My ribs felt bruised, but no longer broken. My head was another story. Though the knot was gone, it still hurt to think. At least my throat was better. That meant more talking. Insert smiley face here.

"Okay, that hurt," I grumbled. I hated showing weakness, but I couldn't help the crazy trembling my body was managing to pull off. I felt like one of those vibrating back managers. Derek noticed and held on tighter seeing I was awake from the episode last night.

"I'm sorry," he breathed, his warm breath tickling my ear. I trembled more at his deep tone, groggy from sleep. Since when could Hale turn me to jelly?

"Derek, why do I feel so off?" I just noticed it now that I was fully awake. By off, I meant a few things. My feeling stronger was one. Feeling more wild, loose was another. And lusty. Holy crap, was I lusty. As in, 'Hi Derek. Wanna make out?'

"Because you were out the whole night sleeping. School is going to start if you want to go today. I don't think you should, though. You're still healing and tonight is full moon."

"Full moon? That means I'm going to go," I clawed my fingers dramatically, pawing at the air, "Grrr! Arrgh!"?

"Yes, Regan. Tonight is your first change. But don't worry. I'll stay with you and talk you through it."

Oh, boy, I'm turning into a werewolf. Mmmm... boy... No! No thoughts like that about Derek. I don't want to make things awkward between us. Don't want to end the snuggle fest. My mental bashing of myself was interrupted by ringing coming from my back pocket. I strained a little to pull my cell phone out, which I noticed was near death. The last bar on the battery was flashing impatiently.

I also noticed the plethora of texts and voice mails I had. Oops.

Stiles was calling, but I really didn't want to talk to him. Or acknowledge a world existing outside Derek's house. But, I decided to listen to the voicemail he was now leaving to see if the call was worth answering.

"Regan, it's Stiles. Scott, Allison, and I think even Jackson and I have been trying to get a hold of you since the alpha hurt you. Last we saw, Derek was trying to save you while we distracted the alpha. Anyway, it'd be nice to know if you're alive so we can stop flipping out. I hope you're okay and get better soon. Wait, if you're already better, are you and Derek going at it?"

Answer! Answer! Answer!

Stiles, I'm going to kill you.

"Hello?" The human said when we connected. I was about to yell at him when my phone died. Crap. They think Derek and I are a couple. Not only a couple, but an 'active' one.

Isn't that peachy?

Knowing Derek heard all that, I was mortified. When I looked to him, expecting him to be put off, I was shocked when he looked amused. "They think we're together? As in, dating?"

Great. Now he's laughing at me. "Why? Is that so funny?" I asked in a hurt tone. When I was hurt, I lashed out to protect myself. Thanks ever so much to growing up with an abusive drunk.

"Actually, no. It's not. If you want to..."

I think my mouth dropped open. I prayed there would be no drool. "Derek Hale, are you asking me out?"

"I mean- well maybe- what I'm trying to say is... yeah, I am." He had turned a deep pink, but as he rambled on, he pulled back on his cool guy persona.

Holy crap! Yes! In my head, I did a crazy party dance. On the outside, I was very still, which I think worried him a little. My only movement was my hand that began running through his hair in a soothing motion. "I'd like that."

I'd like that a lot.