Disclaimer : Unfortunately Derek is still not mine, but I haven't asked maybe Kelley Armstrong will let me have him :D Anywho...nope don't own the Darkest Powers or its characters.

First of all, Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favourited, or shown any form of support for me at all. I love all of you! You are my world, well not my world, but you're definitely my heros! :D

I decided that since other people, along with myself, don't like to see Derek sad, that I just had to do something about it. This one-shot is now a two-shot, and I'm hoping you guys will like how it turns out for Derek. Oh and I took some advice from some of the lovely reviewers. I hope that I kept it more interesting by mixing up my sentences, and I changed my paragraphs, so I hope it's easier to read.

So...for this one my inspiration there was a little thing I borrowed from the lovely Stephenie Meyer's from Twilight. I loved that quote, but sadly for my inspiration i couldn't quite fit irrevocably in it without it sounding hokey lol Oh well, I still liked it lol

Of three things, Derek was certain:

1. He was a werewolf.

2. Chloe was his mate.

3. He was tired of being the lone wolf.

Read on happy people, and I hope you like it :D

It had been just over a week since their arrival at the safe house, and having Chloe in such a close proximity, no matter how little time he spent with her, didn't lessen his feelings at all. In fact, they seemed to get stronger every day, and the more he avoided her, the more he craved her presence.

He tried to avoid her, he really did, but somehow it always ended with them alone in a room together. He wasn't sure if it was on purpose or if subconsciously, they always ended up together.

It didn't really matter. All he knew was that he was sick of hurting. He was sick of being alone. He was sick of not being with Chloe. He wanted to smile again, and without her, even the thought of smiling was unbearable.

As much as he wanted to leave to protect her, he knew he couldn't do it. He had thousands upon thousands of arguments swirling within his head, all convincing him that leaving her was the only option, but his heart had other ideas. He was torn between his reasons and his wants.

He wanted Chloe, more than a horse wanted oats, more than a dog wanted a bone, and he wanted her more than he wanted life itself.

He wasn't strong enough to leave her either. Hell, they'd only been at the safe house for a week and he was already pining for her. Obviously, Derek had no control over his feelings, and nothing he did could ever change them. For him it was all or nothing. It all came to down Chloe.

What did she feel?

What did she want?

After brooding for several days, Derek had decided it was about time for him to take the next step. He would tell Chloe how he felt.

Part of him felt guilty knowing that there was something already going on between her and Simon, but the other part, the wolf part, told him it didn't matter because their bond was stronger than some silly teenage crush.

Besides, over the week Chloe had seemed distant with Simon, like his presence was more of a burden than a blessing. He hoped that was a good sign for him, after all, her distance had started after he began avoiding her.

He was afraid to hope that she wanted the same things that he wanted.

He was afraid of rejection. Like most teenage boys, it was one of Derek's greatest fears, but for him it was much worse, since rejection from Chloe would most likely lead to him being alone for the rest of his life.

But, he had to try.

The only thing that he could imagine being worse than rejection, would be if he never knew how Chloe felt. If he was going to leave, he was going to do it knowing that he didn't lose the greatest thing in his life just because he didn't make a move.

Her reactions to Simon over the last few days had at least given him the assurance that she wasn't interested in his brother. This pleased him, and it pleased the wolf side of him too, who was sure that it meant she was pining for him with the same urgency that he did for her. He used this confidence to help him get up the nerve to talk to Chloe.

He didn't want to plan what he was going to say. He wanted it to be natural. But, he didn't want to be unprepared. So, at night instead of sleeping he went through scenes in his head.

Scenes where Chloe accepted his advances and others where she rejected him in the harshest ways possible. He knew Chloe well enough that even if she did turn him down, she would do it in the kindest knowing that she would be kind no matter what didn't make him feel any better. It made the wolf side of his furious thinking that she might take pity on him if she decided she didn't want to be with him.

He didn't want pity. He wanted Chloe.

He went to bed angry some nights, and others he went to sleep with pictures of Chloe in his arms lulling him to sleep.

Her very presence relaxed him. He found that by avoiding her he had become so stressed that even a hot shower couldn't ease the tension.

In an effort to relax he would run. He'd enter the woods by a large oak tree. The trunk was perfect for lounging against after a long run.

The running didn't lessen his anxiety, but it did help him get his mind off his problems.

He ran a lot at the safe house. Maybe two or three times a day, after every meal, where he would see Chloe sitting across the table from him.

Of course, he didn't directly look at her. He used his peripheral vision, but the wolf side of him always complained, and the human side agreed, that a side view of Chloe wasn't enough.

It would never be enough.

Fleeting glances and dreams could only take him so far. He loved her, but her feelings were a mystery to him.

So, he continued to avoid getting himself hurt.

After their meals, he'd go outside before she could approach him, and he'd start running almost as soon he exited the house.

Even though he didn't think while running, he did afterwards.

Sometimes he would sit against the oak and think for hours. He'd think about the things that Chloe said, or the way her eyes sparkled.

She was always on his mind. He rarely thought of anything else.

Even worrying about Simon and his father had been put on the backburner, she consumed his every thought, not even math could distract him from her. It was hopeless, and he knew he had to do something soon, before he drove himself crazy.

It was at that very tree that Derek finally got up the actual nerve to talk to Chloe. He decided he'd find her, wherever she was and talk to her, after lunch later that day.

He figured that instead of going outside he could just go up to Chloe after they ate. But she didn't come in for lunch.

Already figuring the worst and worrying without reason about Chloe, Derek decided to boycott his own lunch. He searched the entire house for her. He couldn't find her anywhere. He doubted that she would go outside, but he figured it was worth a shot.

He spent so much time looking for her inside that it was already late in the day, and the sun was starting to set, making the trees and forest surrounding the safe house all the more beautiful. Derek looked around the yard with a searching glance, hoping beyond hope that Chloe was out there.

His eyes skimmed the large oak tree, and lying against its trunk was Chloe. Her small and fragile figure unsurpassed by the beauty surrounding her. She was so beautiful. He hadn't allowed himself to look at her for so long, he'd almost forgotten.

He approached her slowly, afraid that she might not want to talk to him.

He was heartbroken to see that she had clearly been crying. Puffy red eyes became the focus of her delicate, yet alluringly striking face.

He longed to reach out and comfort her. He held back, still uncertain of how she felt for him. The last thing he would want to do would be scare her away, when all he wanted to do was keep her safe, protect her.

"Derek." She spoke his name softly and quietly, if he hadn't had his werewolf senses he might not have heard. He lowered himself onto the ground beside her and looked into those intriguing blue eyes that were the focus of so many of his dreams. He could get lost in them.

Chloe looked at him, her eyes filled with sadness. His green eyes mirrored the sadness in hers. Just knowing she was sad filled him with pain identical to hers.

Hesitantly he reached his hand towards one of hers, holding it to provide comfort. With that small motion, hope consumed him. She hadn't pulled away, and she was now looking at him expectantly, as if he was the answer her prayers and would make all her worries go away.

"Chloe..." he said softly, but loud enough that he knew she would hear him.

"D-don't leave me Derek, I can feel you pulling away. It's almost like you've left a-already," she said with a sob.

So, he had been the reason she was crying. He was angry with himself for causing her pain. He silently promised himself that he would do everything in his power to keep her happy.

She obviously didn't want him to leave...so he wouldn't,

"I'm not going anywhere Chloe. I'm right here. I do have something that I have to tell you though. Before I do, I want you to know that it's ok for you to feel differently. I just want you to be honest. Don't force yourself into anything. Okay?" He spoke slowly, trying to convey to her that he was being sincere, and trying to be soothing. He hoped that since his face was scowl-free she'd believe him. He didn't want to scare her.

"Derek. Why would I be forced into saying anything? You would never hurt me...not intentionally anyway," She said the last part quietly, but of course, he heard it, and she knew he did. He could tell by the glint in her eyes, the one that seemed to challenge him with a tell-me-I'm-wrong.

"You're right I'd never hurt you...on purpose," he said with a chuckle, but it didn't quite reach his eyes because he was thinking of the first time he hurt her accidentally, when he threw her across the room at Lyle House. "Chloe...I...I think you're my mate." He finished in a rush.

Okay. That wasn't what he had wanted to say, but he figured it was easier than pronouncing his love for her. He could always blame it on his wolf instinct if she didn't feel the same.

"What does that mean?" Chloe asked quietly with evident curiosity. She had her head tilted and her brow scrunched up in confusion. He thought she looked adorable. He had to tell her he loved her, or she wouldn't understand.

"IloveyouChloe," Derek said, making it one word, rather than four. He looked down, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"...y-you love me?" she asked hesitantly. He was amazed that she had understood him, but he kept his head down, unwilling to face the truth that would be plain on her face. Disgust. Rejection.

But, he didn't have a choice in his head staying down because Chloe had other things in mind. She brought her free hand up under his chin and pulled his face towards her own. He had forgotten that they were still holding hands, but Chloe's movement brought all of that back to him. Surely, it was a good sign that she hadn't dropped his hand yet.

Finding hope once again Derek actually looked at Chloe's face. She didn't look angry or upset, she actually looked happy, glowing even.

Her eyes were penetrating his and he couldn't resist any longer. He leaned into her hand and nodded his head, hoping she would understand that he was saying yes.

She understood immediately.

"Oh...Derek...I-I kind of love you too," she whispered shyly and her face was covered in blush. That was his Chloe, emotions always plain on her face. His Chloe. She really was wasn't she?

Despite his hope, he was still somehow shocked at how Chloe could love him, but he didn't doubt it. He could see clearly from her expression that she was being one hundred percent truthful. He couldn't believe his luck. He was overflowing with happiness. He was ecstatic, and he was pretty sure that he would never stop smiling.

Chloe loved him. He loved her. They loved each other. They'd be together forever now; he would never let her go. He wasn't a lone wolf anymore, sure, he wasn't in a pack, but with Chloe around it didn't matter. He'd never be alone again.

He had Chloe. His mate. His love. His life. She was his. Forever.

After several minutes of staring into each other's eyes, they broke their gaze. Chloe moved over into Derek's lap and they just sat in silence, while both of them wondered how they managed to find love at such a trying time in their lives. Life really was crazy.

The sun was almost completely beyond the horizon by the time one of them moved again.

Derek brushed a piece of Chloe's hair behind her ear, and he lowered his face just inches from hers. He rested his forehead onto hers and gave her one slow and gentle kiss, their first kiss. That kiss didn't end for quite some time though; it branched into many others, and before either of them knew it they were panting from lack of oxygen, and breathing heavily, as if they'd run a marathon.

They looked into each other's eyes once again, and slowly got up, knowing it was about time they went back inside, together.

Derek had Chloe and nothing else mattered, but he definitely could use some food right about then. He hadn't eaten since breakfast. When they entered the safe house kitchen, the eyes of the other three residents all rested on their linked hands.

Seeing Simon's expression immediately wiped the smile off Derek's face, so much for never losing it.

His brother was angry, and clearly jealous.

He had been so consumed by Chloe lately, that he's completely forgotten about how Simon would feel if they got together. He hadn't considered Simon once. Now he was forced to, and he hoped everything would turn out all right.

Hope...hell, he was really relying on it a lot lately.

"Knew it!" Tori yelled. Her yells brought Derek out of his reverie, and caused Chloe to jump about a foot off the ground, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Tori, there is no need to yell. Well...I hope you two had a good time outside, you were certainly out there long enough," Andrew said somewhat sternly, but with a smile on his face, "Come sit down and eat some supper; you must be starving."

"I bet they had fun..." Simon said quietly and bitterly.

Derek's glance immediately went to him, hurt clearly on his face. Simon saw the pain he had caused his brother and felt immediately guilty.

"Sorry man," Simon said as he got up and went towards his brother. Simon gave Derek a sly grin and punched his arm, and he gracefully made his exit. Both from the room, and symbolically, showing Derek that he wouldn't interfere with his relationship with Chloe.

After dinner, Derek was finally full and he had Chloe in his arms. He didn't think he would ever need anything else in the world. She was his life now, and he was hers. Neither of them would ever be alone again.

He knew that if he ever did decide to wander, that he wouldn't do it alone. Chloe would be at his side always, just as she was when he went through his partial changes.

He also knew one day his change would be complete, and he knew that Chloe would still be by his side, just as always. He didn't know how, but he knew that even in wolf form he wouldn't hurt her.

How could he? She was the wolf's mate too, and he wouldn't hurt his mate...not intentionally anyways. He figured he and Chloe would deal with the unintentional hurts as they came, but until then, he would treasure what he had.

Chloe.

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Have an awesome day everyone! Happy Reading! :D