Wow! Once again you all have made my day with your lovely reviews and, of course, those of you who have subscribed and followed the story thus far. You're all beautiful and I thank you

There be shenanigans afoot, shall we read on? I think we shall!

XoxoxoxoxoX

Friday was exhausting as the moon rose high and full in the sky, pushing us all to our limits in terms of anger and control. While well acquainted with the moon, I still felt my eyes shift color from blue to red and they stayed that way throughout the night. Nick had to take the night off work as his eyes, usually deep brown, were now piercing blue. Plus the canines were a dead giveaway. Thankfully I heard no word of the betas having any trouble during the full moon which was good for me too; I didn't want to regret my decision in helping them get the dance only to wolf out on some poor innocent human.

By the time that the sun had risen in the sky in the early hours of Saturday morning I felt like I had run five marathons and wanted nothing more than to sleep in all day and recover my strength. Just as I was about to snuggle deeper into my covers when my phone began the song of its people on my night stand. I groaned and briefly contemplated throwing it at the wall but rather than go through the hassle of buying a new one, I decided to answer it.

"Someone better be dead or dying because that's the only thing I'll get up for!" I growled into the phone. An airy laugh floated back to my ear.

"Well, good morning to you too, sunshine!" Lydia chirped. "Time to rise and shine! We have a lot of shopping to do today!"

"Are you aware of the ungodly hour right now?" I asked desperately, starring at the clock in horror. "It's six thirty! On a Saturday, after a full moon! Can't I just wear one of the dresses I own and be done with it?"

"Oh no, you are not backing out of this Scarlett! And don't you take that tone of snarl with me," she replied briskly as I growled lowly. "You are representing us and the pack and I cannot have you not looking your best!"

I flopped on my back and groaned discontentedly. "Lydia, come on! I'm pretty sure there is a clause in the Geneva Convention that says it's illegal to wake anyone up this early on a Saturday for shopping."

"I've read it back to front; there isn't."

As a werewolf there were few people in this world that I had come up against that I wasn't confident I could win in a battle scenario. Unfortunately, I had never encountered a person quite as formidable as Lydia Martin. "FINE! When do I have to up and or ready?"

"Thought you'd see it my way. Be ready by seven thirty, I'll come by and pick you up and then we'll get Allison and Erica. Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"

"Yay! Can't hardly wait," I muttered sarcastically before ending the conversation.

I moaned under the lethargy my body was holding onto, cracking and popping stiff bones and muscles into place. After stretching I threw myself under a boiling shower and quickly dressed in jeans, shirt and flats, braiding my hair off to the side. If I was going to be force to disrobe at a moment's notice then I'd rather not be overly dressed for the occasion. I quickly brushed my teeth, grabbed my bag and made myself a small, hasty breakfast. Lydia was so buying me huge lunch to make up for this! Twenty minutes later I heard a car horn beeping outside the house and knew my time had come. I scrawled a quick note to Nick, explaining where I was and if I wasn't back by at least mid-afternoon to avenge my death.

"Are you excited for the dance tonight, Scarlett?" Lydia asked as I slid into the passenger seat.

"Well honestly, I'll just be standing on the sidelines and making sure you children behave yourself. It's not like I'm going to the dance to, well, dance or anything."

"Oh ye of little faith! Don't worry, I'll find a way to get you up on the dance floor."

"No, really, you don't have to. I mean it, really!"

"The way you're acting, I would think that you've never been to a school dance before." Lydia said playfully but on seeing my slightly sheepish expression let out a piercing screech.

"Jesus Christ, my ears!"

"You've never been to a dance before? Like, ever?"

I sighed and banged my head against the window. "I've been to dances before, I guess, just not a lot of them. On the one hand, when I was younger they always seemed to fall on a full moon so it was too dangerous for me to be out. On the other, I just never considered them a big deal, you know?"

"Well, clearly you just didn't go with the right people or have the right stylist available." Lydia said with a smile. "We'll make this your first official dance! And who knows, maybe you could ask Derek for a dance?"

I completely ignored the Derek comment but smiled anyway. "Why thank you kindly. By the way, the stylist thing? Never an issue. Having a brother is more feminine than you has its perks."

She laughed. "True. Oh, we're at Allison's! Hello, Mr. Argent!"

I turned quickly to see an older man walking towards the car to stick his head in the window while Allison made her way out the door. "Hello Lydia. And you must be Scarlett." He said mildly.

I balked just a little, having never been in such close proximity to a hunter before Allison. But now I had her father giving me this searching gaze that made me shift uncomfortably in my seat. "Nice to meet you, sir."

"You are aware of what I am, aren't you?"

Doesn't beat around the bush, does he? "Yes, sir, I am. But I am only here in the interest of the pack, not for anything else."

I was taken aback but his smile, which didn't seem to hold any threat but was still a little disconcerting. "So I've heard. We have a code that we follow, Scarlett, and we do not break from that. Just keep doing what you're doing and we'll get along fine."

"Thank you, sir." I mumbled.

"Dad, please tell me you're not giving the whole big bad hunter talk to Scarlett!" Allison groaned appearing behind her dad.

"Nothing of the sort." He insisted. He gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek and hugged her before letting her by to get into the car. "You have fun today."

"I will. Bye." She called as we drove off to Erica's. "I'm so sorry about that! Since my grandfather and my mother, he's been super protective of me. He gets a little too zealous with the pack sometimes."

"That's okay. I've met worse before. Hey, wait, what do you mean, your mother?"

Allison sighed sadly. "She thought she was taking away a threat by trying to kill Scott. Derek showed up to rescue him and they fought. Derek accidently bit her and on the next moon she was going to shift. In my family's line of work, they would rather kill themselves than become what they hunt."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" I said frantically. "I didn't know, I'm sorry for asking."

Allison shrugged and gave me a small smile. "It's okay, I guess. I realized just how much she had tried to turn my head away from the code and my dad after she died. My grandfather too. Now, things are kind of balanced, even if I am dating a wolf."

"You must hate people like Derek; people like me." I said sadly.

"What? No! I mean, sure I'm certainly not vying for President of Derek's fan club and there are times where I'd like nothing more than to put a wolfsbane bullet in his head," I almost growled at the thought of Derek getting shot but suppressed it as a cough. "But for the sake of the pack and Scott, I get along with him. Plus, I couldn't hate you! You've been nothing be wonderful since you arrived; we may have a fighting chance now."

I smiled at her gratefully. "It's just what I do."

Thankfully the subject was dropped and soon Erica joined Allison in the back seat of the car, grumbling like I had about lack of sleep and feel sore all over. "Welcome to the club, kid." I reminded her but she just kept on grumbling. Ten minutes later we had arrived at the surprisingly large mall and were walking in under the dictatorship of Lydia who had an entire schedule for the day planned.

"Not to discredit your organizational skills but can we get something to eat first?"

"No! We have a schedule to maintain and I will not deviate from that!" Lydia cried dramatically.

"Fine, drag two hungry, tired and irritable she-wolves around and just see what happens. I'm sure it'll all be fine though." Erica said with a shrug, winking over in my direction.

"Okay, we'll make a quick meal stop but then we are shopping! No excuses!" Lydia huffed and we followed her obediently like puppies on a café nearby.

The quick meal stop turned into an hour long chow down session between Erica and I while Lydia and Allison just watched, amused with cups of coffee in hand. Ten plates of food later and feeling much more like my old self, I was ready for shopping. I insisted on paying as I had eaten the most. The first stop was Macy's department store where Lydia laden all our arms with potential dresses and accessories, not stopping for one second to debate any decision she had made. I wasn't game enough to argue anyway. Eventually all four of us found the fitting rooms and sealed ourselves in to assess which dress was best.

Lydia, no surprise, was the first to declare that she didn't need to try on any other dresses and that she demanded that we show her any dresses we thought had potential. Erica soon emerged wearing a dark blue strapless dress that came almost down to her ankles but with a provocative split up the right side. With Lydia's approval, she was done. Next came Allison, who opted for a simple black number with diamante detailing on the waist. She was quite pale anyway, so the dress and stones made her skin seem like it was glowing. And last but not least, there was me…

"Come on, Scarlett! Don't make me come in there and pick one for you!" Lydia called from the other side of the door. I sighed and glanced back at the mirror. This was the last dress I had tried on but I wasn't entirely sure about it. Sure, it fit beautifully but there was something that I felt like I needed ask the girls first.

"Hang on, I'm stepping out now."

A little collective gasp went up from the girls as I emerged. I looked at them nervously, unsure what that gasp actually meant. "What? Does it look bad?"

"No!" Lydia breathed. "You look amazing! That color is perfect for your skin tone."

"You really think so?" I asked, turning to look at myself in the full length mirror. The dress was a deep red halter neck that flair ever so slightly at the hips and came about mid-way on my thighs. The back was plunging, only skin on display until just before the waistline.

"Yeah! You're going to be beating them off with a stick!"Allison concurred with a smile.

Giggling a little I did another spin in the dress and said softly. "Do you think Derek will like it?"

What – the – fuck?

"Uh, come again? Did you just say 'Do you think Derek will like it'?" Erica asked like I'd grown another head.

Flustered and mortified I suddenly found my feet rather interesting. "What? No! Why would I care if Derek likes the dress or not?"

"Well, maybe it had something to do with all that sexual tension you two were throwing around the station the night before." Erica said with the tiniest hint of a smirk while the other girls turned to me in shock.

"Okay, I refuse to be the last to know about pack gossip! Details, woman, details!" Lydia demanded.

"It's nothing, really. Um, I'm going to get changed out of this and then we'll go buy our dresses okay?"

"You can't hide in there! I'll get it out of you eventually, Scarlett!" Lydia called at my back as I closed the door in her face. I buried my head in my heads and cursed my brain to mouth filter for not catching that sooner. It was bad enough that Nick knew the truth; it was bad enough that I had blatantly flirted with Derek the night before the full moon and now it was clear that the girls were onto something too! Fuck my life!

After taking longer than necessary to redress myself and peel out of the fitting room I tried to dodge the incessant questioning from the girls as we stood in line at the cashiers. They tried subtly, reverse psychology, flattery and even outright threats but what broke me in the end was an all out sneak attack.

"So how big is he in the male appendage department?" Allison asked slyly. I spluttered and blushed deeply, feeling the need to respond.

"No! Of course I haven't seen his cock yet! God Allison, don't you have a boyfriend?" I stuttered nervously, only to have sinking feeling enter my heart when I saw their evil, triumphant looks.

"So…not yet, huh? You, my girl, owe us details, and juicy ones at that." Erica smiled as I slumped on one of the benches outside the store. The all sat around me like I was their mother and I was about to tell them a particularly perverted fairy tale.

"Guys, there's nothing to tell. I never thought I'd say this but can we get back to shopping already?" I begged pleadingly. They all shook their heads. Bitches.

"Nu-uh! I heard what you guys said to one another Thursday night; you bit his ear for fuck's sake! And the sexual tension rolling off the two of you? Don't even get me started!" Erica replied smirking. "You may as well 'fess up, Scarlett. These two might not pick up on it, but I'm a wolf and I can hear and smell everything."

With a deep, sad sigh I looked at all of their eager faces. "If I tell you, it doesn't go beyond us, okay? I don't need this becoming public knowledge right now!"

"Yay! Come on, give me details, I live for this!" Lydia begged.

"Okay, fine! Well," Deep breath Scarlett! "Derek and I…we're mates."

There was a brief pause of silence before I felt both my eardrums shatter. The girls squealed and screamed in delight. I wasn't sure the new was so exciting for them but I eventually had to shush them as they were attracting quite the crowd of onlookers.

"But wait, if you two are mates, why don't you act like it?" Erica asked curiously. It would be stranger to her than the others; she was a wolf and the situation I found myself in could one day be her.

"Because Derek doesn't know yet, or at least I think he doesn't. I knew the second I laid eyes on him but I've been trying to deny it; don't give me that look, Lydia, I have my reasons for it! But I just knew, by smell and by dreams I'd been having. Apparently it's like a wolfish vision that leaves you hints as to who your mate is. Love at first sight but without the love."

"Wow, that's sort of dreamy." Allison breathed wistfully.

"Not really," I said bluntly. "I mean, sure, I've gotten to know Derek a little more over the last few months and in all honesty, I like him. I really do! But it's not love, not by any stretch of the word! The human side of me is still resisting it all but the wolf in me has been on board from day one. By denying your mate once your wolf has acknowledged their existence, you can put yourself in real harm's way. It can make you sick, weak, it can even kill you. While I'm certainly not ready to admit this all to Derek any time soon, I'm sticking close by so my health or strength won't deteriorate."

"Are you sure that Derek doesn't know?" Lydia cocked her head to the side. "He's been acting really strange around you lately. First he lets you into the pack to help train us, then he gets all protective of you whenever you're injured and now he's flirting with you in front of other people."

"On a subconscious level, he probably knows but, like me, is being stubborn about it or doesn't realize that his actions are part of a bigger scheme here. There's something holding him back, I can see that much in his eyes, kind of like me. He will realize it eventually but until then, I'm okay with pretending that nothing out of the ordinary is going on."

"I can't believe what I'm about to say but I really think you should." I stared bewildered at Erica who, despite the news, was the calmest. "Hear me out! Look, I know I'm young and I'm not exactly an experienced wolf but I think you and Derek would work well together. You both have similar personalities, and similar pasts from what I can piece together. There's a part of you that's damaged in some way but I think you could heal it with him. He actually listens to you; do you know how rare that is for him? And you seem to calm him down too, which he really needs. He needs you, Scarlett, whether he knows it yet or not. I don't want completely know why the both of you feel on whatever mental level that you don't deserve to find 'the one' but don't let the past stop you from making a future."

I swiped at a tear that had unconsciously slid down my face and pulled Erica into a bone breaking hug. Seriously, I heard something snap. "How'd you get so wise, so young huh?"

She shrugged, popping her shoulder back into place. "It's a gift. Now come, let's go finish the rest of the day and show those stupid boys how lucky they are to have us on their arms."

We all laughed and made our way to the nail salon that Lydia had booked for us in advance. But while Erica was right I was still unwilling to admit that I was too much of a coward to go ahead with it. Erica had hit the nail on the head when she had said there was something in my past that left me damaged; it didn't want to be defined by my past, I wasn't that child anymore but when something traumatic and tragic happens to you so young, no matter how hard you try and piece yourself together, a little sliver of who you used to be is gone forever. And that's why Derek and I would not do well together; two broken halves don't make a whole, especially with all the tiny slivers missing.

XoxoxoxoxoX

"Well, I have to admit, I can't stop starring at myself." I smiled at my reflection in Lydia's side view mirror for the fifth time.

"Of course you can't! You just experienced the Lydia Martin treatment; once you've had it, there's no going back."

"You got that right." Erica replied while admiring her newly painted nails.

The remainder of our shopping extravaganza had thankfully been quiet on the subject of Derek and mates and the like. Mostly it was due to the respect the girls had for my well being but partly it came down to me threatening them with dismemberment if they breathed a word to anyone else about what I had told them. While I wasn't a girly girl I had enjoyed myself immensely and felt a tingle of anticipation at the thought of showing myself off at the dance tonight.

By the time Lydia had dropped us off at our respective homes it was close to four in the afternoon and the dance started at seven. I raided the pantry and kitchen for a filling meal of leftover ribs and fries from the night before as well as half a cake before heading upstairs to get ready. I found a note from Nick saying he had been called into the ER on short notice, something about a car crash, and that he would be home late. I sent him a quick text telling him I wouldn't be far behind tonight but to be safe anyway.

I applied a little make-up to my face; blush, red lipstick and smoky eyes that complimented the shade of my dress. Lydia had insisted on someone overpriced bald guy in a black turtle neck styling my hair; I reluctantly admitted that baldy had down a magnificent job. My hair was shinning blond and flowed mid-way down my back in loose curls, looking something like a 1950s pin up. I quickly pulled the dress on and then the black six inch heels Lydia had also insisted were a necessity. I was just pulling a black jacket over my shoulders and berating myself for being late when I heard an annoying honking from the front of the house. Confused, I opened the door to find Lydia and Jackson parked on the curb in a silver Porsche Carrera.

"Hey, Scarlett! We thought we'd come to give you a ride in style!"

I laughed, a little out of my element. "Um, sure thanks guys!" I clambered as gracefully as I could into the back of tiny car, trying not to laugh as Jackson was smacked upside the head for letting his 'helpful' hands linger on my rear for too long. We sped off towards the school, arriving fifteen minutes later and after breaking almost every speed limit in town.

I was trying maneuver my leg from the tight back seat, looking back to see if my heel was going to get stuck in anything and send me flying. I felt a large hand take mine and absently thanked them, thinking it may have been Jackson or one of the other betas I had seen close by. I stumbled a little and found myself braced against a very familiar chest with a familiar scent invading my senses. I looked up with just enough time for my breathing and heart to stop.

Oh – my – various – Gods!

Derek cleaned up well for someone who lived permanently in an abandoned subway station. He had on black dress pants and a crisp white shirt, a few buttons open at the top and blue sports jacket over the top. He'd even shaved, taking years off his face without the constant five o'clock shadow in place. He looked positively mouthwatering and what little self control I was holding onto went directly to chastising my filthy mind for wanting to tear at those clothes with my bare hands. We stood stock still, ignoring everything outside the two of us, staring at one another like it was the first time again.

"You look beautiful tonight, Scarlett." He said softly. I leant into his hand as his rough fingers tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His voice sounded exactly as it had the night we almost kissed.

"So do you," I was the only reply I could muster, pressing closer against his hard body.

The moment was interrupted by a blinding flash of light to our right. We both separated and blinked furiously so our vision wasn't blurred, only to see Lydia standing there with a camera looking annoyed.

"Damn wolf eyes!" she muttered. "Never going to be able to take a decent photo again!"

"Never mind photos, Coach Finstock is looking for our chaperones, otherwise no entry." Isaac said as a stocky man with wild hair and crazy eyes approached the group.

"McCall, Whitmore! You better not be drinking out here; get your asses in the auditorium now!" The betas and humans scuttled off throwing dirty looks over their shoulders at the Coach who had now rounded on us.

"And who are you two? You're too old to be students, why are you –"

"I'm sorry but we're friends of Scott and Jackson. I believe Lydia may have told you that we were coming to chaperone the dance." Derek interrupted the Coach's rant. He was polite, actually smiling, but there was a firm authoritative note in his voice that left no room for argument.

The Coach floundered for a moment before recovering. "Oh, right, uh sorry about that. Ms. Keats and Mr. Hale right?" We nodded. "Well, follow me and we can get this night over with." And with that he stomped off, muttering about the injustices of life and how he needed a stiff drink.

"Well, he seems friendly." I muttered as we walked towards the pounding music. I could smell the room from here; teenage hormones, sweat, sex and the faint sting of alcohol.

"Oh, he's charming alright." Derek replied sarcastically and it made me laugh. He looked at me, stunned I guess you could call his expression, before smiling down at me. He offered me his arm. "Shall we?"

I linked my arm with him. "We shall." And together we entered the auditorium.

The dance progressed normally enough, although from lack of experience I couldn't really comment. The decorations were pretty, lots of sparkles and streamers floating about the place and balloons fell down from the ceiling every once in a while. The soft lighting and occasional pounding strobe light were a little too much at times but the music, for the most part, wasn't half bad and we so far hadn't had to suffer through too many repetitive Nicki Minja or Pitbull songs. The pack seemed to be having a good time too, the two resident couples up and dancing with one another for most of it while occasionally swapping dance partners with the singles so everyone was included. Stiles was particularly entertaining to watch as he attempted complicated dance moves out on the floor, much to the uproarious laughter of Boyd and Isaac. I even heard Derek chuckle beside me once or twice as Stiles attempted a vigorous Funky Chicken routine that saw him fall flat on his back.

There wasn't a whole lot of skill involved in chaperoning a school dance, as it turns out. All Derek and I were expected to do (according to Coach Finstock) was stand around and make it look like we were keeping an eye on things. Clearly it didn't matter either way. I had taken a tentative sip of the punch when we arrived and found that it had already been spiked. Remembering the Coach's words from earlier about a stiff drink, I decided against telling him and he seemed happier for the lie. While we watched the betas and humans dance and enjoy themselves, Derek and I talked. Again, I was reminded about why I liked the guy; he could be funny, witty and charming when he wanted to be and he seemed more relax now. I don't think I'd seen him this ways since the last time it was just the two of us alone. He had me laughing on more than one occasion and eventually we both had to discard our jackets in the humid room. Not that I was complaining; the look I caught Derek giving me as it slipped off my shoulders was reward enough. He had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing more of his arms and I appreciated the view. Throughout the night we had been moving closer and closer to one another so by the time the MC announced that the dance would be wrapping up in just over an hour, we were shoulder to shoulder, whispering into each other's ears. The lower we whispered the harder it was for a certain nosy blond were-bitch and he two human sidekicks to stick their ears in where they didn't belong. Erica gestured inappropriately at times when Derek's attention was elsewhere and I silently reiterated my threat from earlier regarding her throat and my teeth.

"I meant it earlier, you know," Derek said lowly, breathe tickling my ear. "You really do look beautiful. Who knew you were hiding all of this away!"

I laughed. "Hardly hiding! Besides, how do you think I feel? I almost collapsed in shock when I saw you; I had no idea you owned a razor!"

"Clever," he smirked. "So how are you enjoying the dance? I suppose it's not quite the same when you're an adult."

"Honestly I really don't have much to compare it on. But it seems really nice. Plus they're having fun, which is the most important thing."

"How is that possible? Didn't you ever get asked to dances?" he blurted out, clearly before he could stop himself.

"Well, that yes," I admitted, embarrassed I was even revealing this to him. "But it just seemed that every time the opportunity came up, fate was against me. Could be anything for it falling on a full moon, no one asking me or just not wanting to sit alone all night. The few times I did go by myself weren't exactly a barrel of laughs."

"You were alone?" I nodded. "But, didn't you have any friends to go with?"

"Not really, not good friends and I certainly didn't have any pack mates. Nick and I moved around a lot, for a time and it wasn't until after I'd graduated high school that we settled down for more than a year. Besides, no one wanted to date the freaky girl who lived alone with her brother and disappeared a few times every month. It wasn't good for their street cred."

At the time this had all hurt but now I found it amusing. It didn't really bother me anymore; I just added it to the list of typical high school experiences. Derek, however, looked anything but amused.

"Who called you a freak?" he demanded and I giggled, placing my hand on his shoulder.

"Chill out! It was almost eight years ago now, it doesn't matter. It was just easier to not make friends or date anyone when I knew I'd probably be moving at the end of the school year."

"Still," he huffed scowling. "No one should have called you a freak."

"To you I'm not, but I'm just like you. To us, werewolves and hunters and the rest of this supernatural barrel of mysteries is the norm. We grew up in it and were molded by it. But to humans who don't know what we are and the reasons behind our actions, we're the freaks, the oddities. When I was younger, it used to get to me a lot. Now, I just sort of accept it as an inevitability. There will always be that portion of the human race that doesn't understand us."

"You shouldn't make excuses for people," he said, getting that intense look in his eye. It was like he wanted to say more but didn't have the words or didn't want to speak it out loud. "Not like that. You shouldn't have been alone. You don't deserve to be alone."

I was taken aback at how sincere he sounded, like it had pained him that this had happened. I wanted to tell him I didn't really mean it; it was just the fact he had yet to realize we were mates and it was making him say things like this. But I couldn't bring myself to say the words so I settled for quickly kissing his cheek before I chickened out.

"Neither to do, Derek. You don't deserve to be alone."

I had no idea what possessed me to do what I did, or to utter those words. His eyes seemed to cloud over and I realized just how much of the past we were both holding back from one another. He looked conflicted, sad, and angry and I wanted nothing more than to take it all away so he would smile like he did in my dreams. Knowing there wasn't a thing I could say to make the darkness in his eyes disappear I settled for molding myself against his side and taking one of his hands in mine, rubbing my thumb in concentric circles over the skin. I felt some of the tension leave his body but not all of it. Even with heels on I still only came up to his neck so I leant my head forward, nuzzling my nose as gently as I could just under his chin and along his jaw. His scent was heaven and in that moment I didn't care that the rest of the pack were probably watching or that I wasn't supposed to be getting this close to him in the first place. I only cared about making Derek forget that he was damaged and remind him he was human.

I felt his shiver travel through his body as if it had been my own. I didn't need to look up or open my eyes to know that his were closed and his heart was thumping away in a slightly irregular beat. The arm whose hand I wasn't currently holding slipped carefully around my shoulders before pulling me in closer. I gasped quietly so only Derek would hear it.

"Okay, boys and girls, we're just about to wrap this dance up," I heard the displeased groans of the teenagers in the room. I still refused to open my eyes. "So here's the last song for the night dedicated to all the lovebirds out there."

A slow melody came on and I sighed contently. It was sweet, another sugary love song and normally I would found myself making fun of the cheesy lyrics. But right now, wrapped up in Derek's arms I found it romantic. I let out a small whine as I felt him move away and opened my eyes to see him move in front of me. He was still holding onto my hand.

"Care to dance?" he asked. Oh, the husky voice! What's that sound? I do believe that's my heart exploding.

Words failed me so I smiled shyly and nodded, allowing Derek to lead me out onto the edge of the dance floor. He spun me in a quick circle before pulling me in close again. I wasn't going to be able to breathe if he kept this up! One hand came around my waist and the other held my hand in his. I put my remaining hand on his shoulder, resting my head against the junction of his neck and shoulder. In that moment, I didn't care that I wasn't supposed to want a mate, I didn't care that somewhere out there, there was another pack just waiting to tear us apart. I didn't even care the Allison, Lydia and Erica had pulled away from their respective partners to dart into my line of sight, making sexual gestures and generally voicing their approval through thumbs up. All I cared about was that I felt like that little sliver that had been missing for fifteen years had found its way back into my heart again.

We swayed gently in time to the beat of the music, his head coming to rest on top of mine. I wanted the moment to last forever and could not think of a single thing that could make this any more perfect. That is, until I felt his gentle hand underneath my chin, tilting my face up to his. It was just like before, our noses touching lightly and our breaths mingling. His green grey eyes looked darker under the lights, searching mine for any sign of hesitation. When he found none, time seemed to slow as his closed the tiny distance between us.

I may have stopped believing in fairy tales fifteen years ago but I was willing to have a little faith as Derek Hale kissed me for the first time…

XoxoxoxoxoX

CLIFFHANGER! Dun-dun-duuuun! Oh, I'm an evil one but that's why you love me. I think this has to be the longest chapter I've done so far and I have to say I'm damn pleased with myself but the only opinions that matter are yours so review, subscribe and the like and let me know what you all think.

Until the next time, love Lithium xxoo