Author's note: Hey y'all! Just wanted to let you know that I probably won't be able to until Wednesday because of New Years. :( I'm sorry!
There is a to be continued at the end but it's not a cliffhanger of epic proportions. Lol
Hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks again for reading! :D
ENJOY!
It was Friday before Aurora started to feel like herself again. She decided since she didn't feel half as bad as she had the previous four days that she should go to school. She didn't even want to think about the pile of homework that awaited her. Getting dressed, Aurora was sure to wear a long sleeve shirt and a hoodie to keep warm. She debated on sweat pants but decided to wear her second favorite pair of True Religion™ jeans. Before heading downstairs she grabbed her cell phone from the table next to her bed. She looked down at the screen to see a message alert. It was from Derek. He had been texting her all week. Between her cold and the fact that she had no idea what to say to him, Aurora didn't answer any of his messages. She was still having a hard time comprehending what had happened and Derek wasn't making it any easier for her to process. She decided to read the new text, just to see what Derek had said.
To: Princess
From: Mountain Man
Aurora. Please talk to me. I'm sorry that I've been blowing up your phone but I'm worried. Please, just let me know you are okay.
'That's just it,' Aurora thought, 'I am totally not okay. Either you're a werewolf or I'm crazy. Both of those options SUCK!'
She put her phone in her pocket then immediately took it back out.
To: Mountain Man
From: Princess
If by "okay" you mean alive, than yes. I'm okay.
To: Princess
From: Mountain Man
You had me worried sick. How are you feeling? Physically.
To: Mountain Man
From: Princess
You can't help yourself can you? I'm trying to process the craziest thing that has ever happened in my life and you scold me for it. Much better. Just a little weak.
To: Princess
From: Mountain Man
I was about to come check on you. If you would have just text me back the first twenty times I wouldn't have to scold you. I'm glad to hear that.
To: Mountain Man
From: Princess
I don't have time for your creepy possessive ways right now. I need to get to school.
To: Princess
From: Mountain Man
Are you feeling well enough to go to the dance tonight? Or are you skipping it?
To: Mountain Man
From: Princess
I really want to go, but I don't know if I'm up for it.
To: Princess
From: Mountain Man
You don't want me to take you anymore, do you?
Aurora's heart sank.
To: Mountain Man
From: Princess
Derek, I'm not ready to have the conversation we need to have. I don't think I could act normal at the dance with that sort of weight hanging on my shoulders.
To: Princess
From: Mountain Man
I understand. Well, if you go I hope you have a great night. Let me know when you are ready to talk. I miss you.
To: Mountain Man
From: Princess
Thank you. And I will.
With that, Aurora shoved her phone in her pocket. Brushing the tears off her face, she headed downstairs for breakfast.
*12:30 p.m. Friday afternoon*
"The amount of homework I have should be considered unconstitutional." Aurora complained sitting down next to Elizabeth at their lunch table.
"I'm so sorry A. If you need any help I would be happy to assist." Elizabeth said smiling at her best friend.
"Thank Lizzie! You're the best friend a girl could have!" Aurora gushed.
"Alright, shut up." Elizabeth said nudging Aurora with her elbow.
Aurora let out a small laugh moving her salad around on her plate with her fork.
"You seem down though." Elizabeth added. "And I don't mean too much homework just getting over a cold down either. Did something happen with Derek?"
"No." Aurora lied.
"Aurora. What happened? Did Derek do something?" Elizabeth asked
"No! Why do you always think the worst of him? I really don't want to talk about it Elizabeth." Aurora spat.
"So something did happen." Elizabeth pushed.
"Elizabeth. It's fine. I'm just confused right now. Derek didn't do anything to me." Aurora said.
"Why are you confused?" Elizabeth continued. "Is it because you think he is moving too fast? You guys got serious pretty quick."
"He's not moving too fast." Aurora said annoyed. "Can we drop it for right now, please? I just want to eat my lunch."
"Is he still taking you to the dance?" Elizabeth asked pressing her luck.
"No." Aurora gritted out.
Elizabeth stopped after that.
When the bell rang to signal that lunch was over Aurora got up from the table without saying anything to Elizabeth. She was furious. Even though she knew she shouldn't be. Elizabeth was just worried. Aurora knew she shouldn't take her frustration out on her best friend for caring but she wasn't thinking that rationally. She walked quickly down the hall to her sixth period class in hopes Elizabeth wouldn't try to talk to her anymore.
"Aurora! Wait up!" She heard someone call.
It wasn't the voice of her best friend.
Aurora turned around to see a boy with dark brown hair running up to her.
"What's up Ian?" She asked trying to act like her cared.
Ian was a pale, thin kid with bright green eyes. He wore glasses and his hair was long enough that it flipped up around his ears. Aurora had known him since freshman year from National Honor Society. He was a really sweet guy and always had kind things to say.
"Hey Aurora. I was wondering, do you have a date from the dance tonight?" Ian asked.
"Umm…" Aurora shrugged.
"If not, I was wondering if you would like to go with me? As friends?" He asked hopefully.
"Didn't you want to go with Stacy?" Aurora questioned.
"Ha. Yeah. She didn't even let me get the question out before laughing in my face. I guess that's what I get for being a nerd who's in love with the most popular girl in school." Ian chuckled.
He'd been trying to get Stacy's attention from the moment they started high school.
"Well, that's her loss. And I'd love to go with you." Aurora told him.
"Great! I'll pick you up at six?" Ian asked.
"That sounds great Ian." Aurora smiled.
She tried her hardest not to be sad. Ian was a really nice guy. There was no reason for him to have to go to the dance alone. Especially not because some bitch wouldn't get off her pedestal to notice he was an amazing guy.
'It will be fine Aurora. You'll go to the dance and have a good time.' She thought trying to reassure herself.
By the time the final bell rang, Aurora had made herself sick with worry. She didn't want to go to the dance but she didn't want to deal with what she had found out about Derek either. When she got in her car she had to stop herself from screaming. She felt so overwhelmed she started to cry.
XXXX
"I thought you said you didn't have a date." Mrs. Montgomery said raising an eyebrow at her daughter from her seat on the couch.
"Ian asked me last minute." Aurora told her mom walking down the stairs to join her in the living room.
"Oh you look fantastic!" Mrs. Montgomery said joyfully.
Aurora was wearing her dress for the dance with silver high heels. She had curled her hair and left it down. Aurora didn't put much make up on, just eyeliner and mascara.
"Thanks!" Aurora said trying to be happy.
"What time will Ian be here?" Mrs. Montgomery asked.
Just then there was a knock at the front door.
"Speak of the devil." Aurora giggled walking over to answer it.
"Oh, wow. You look amazing." Ian told her when she opened the door.
He was dressed in a black suit with a light purple tie.
"You are looking pretty dapper yourself." Aurora smiled.
"I need pictures!" Mrs. Montgomery shouted jumping up to get her camera.
XXXX
When they arrived at the dance it was six thirty.
"Thank you for agreeing to come with me last minute." Ian told Aurora as they walked in to the school gym where the dance was being held.
"No problem!" Aurora grinned.
Entering the gym Aurora saw Elizabeth and Paul out on the dance floor. She hoped that her best friend wasn't upset with her from earlier.
"Ready to dance?" Ian asked loudly over the music.
"Let's do it!" Aurora said grabbing his hand.
They walked over to Elizabeth and Paul who immediately started dancing with them. Aurora gave her best friend a quick hug and Elizabeth smiled. Relief flooded Aurora's thoughts. She knew Elizabeth hadn't taken what had happened earlier to heart. Ian grabbed Aurora's hands and spun her around. They danced for a couple of songs before Aurora had to sit down. She still wasn't feeling one hundred percent better.
"I'll get you some water." Ian told her with a smile.
"Thank you so much!" Aurora said sitting down at the closest table.
Elizabeth and Paul joined her at the table a few minutes later. Elizabeth sat to Aurora's left and Paul sat next to Elizabeth.
"I'm glad you decided to go tonight." Elizabeth told Aurora.
"Me too bestie." Aurora beamed.
"Elizabeth! Aurora!" Ethan shouted excitedly walking up to their table.
He was accompanied by his boyfriend Danny.
"Hey! You two look great!" Aurora told them as they sat down.
"Why thank you. You look mighty fine yourself." Ethan said with a wink.
"Here you go Aurora." Ian said sitting a glass of water in front of her as he sat down on Aurora's right.
"Thank you." Aurora told him taking a huge gulp of water.
"Here, let me get that for you." Ian said reaching over to tuck a stray piece of Aurora's hair behind her ear.
Aurora smiled.
It didn't take long for everyone at the table to start chatting. They were all talking about the insanely ridiculous math homework Professor Stevens had assigned when Elizabeth's body went rigid.
"I thought you said he wasn't going to be here tonight." Elizabeth said stiffly looking over at the gym entrance.
Derek was standing in the doorway.
Aurora nearly swooned when he caught her eye and smiled wide. He was dressed in a black suit with a light blue tie he had obviously picked out to match Aurora's dress. Aurora couldn't help but think how incredibly handsome he looked.
"Who's that?" Ian asked looking from Derek to Aurora.
Aurora didn't answer. Instead she made a beeline for Derek, grabbing him by the arm to lead him back outside.
"What are you doing here?" Aurora asked trying to act like she wasn't thrilled to see him.
She looked around to see that they were completely alone in the parking lot. It was freezing outside and Aurora's body began to shake after only a few seconds of standing in the cold.
Derek didn't respond to her question. He was looking at her intensely his eyebrows furrowed.
"Derek?" Aurora questioned.
"Why do you smell like some guy?" He asked in a low growl.
"Why do I what?!" Aurora shouted going wide eyed. "You can smell Ian on me?"
"Who the fuck is Ian?" Derek fumed.
His eyes flashed red.
"He's my friend. FRIEND, Derek." Aurora told him in agitation.
"Then why is his sent all over you?" He gritted out.
"We were dancing!" Aurora shouted.
Derek looked like he had swallowed glass.
"Jesus Derek. We just danced. What can I do to make you stop looking at me like that?" Aurora asked wanting him to stop staring at her like she smelled like garbage.
Derek didn't say anything. Instead he grabbed her hips and pulled her close. He slowly ran his hands from her hips up the sides of her body leaning down to kiss her collar bone. Aurora's knees went weak. Even though she fought the urge to run her fingers through his hair, she grabbed ahold of his shoulders for support. Derek moved from her collar bone to her neck nipping at it playfully.
"What exactly do you hope to accomplish by groping me?" Aurora giggled.
"Trying to make you smell like me again." Derek mumbled into her neck.
"Again?! This is some freaky werewolf thing isn't it?" Aurora asked whispering the word werewolf.
"Why does your hair smell like him?" Derek rumbled sliding his right hand down her back making her whole body shiver.
It was clear Derek was going to completely ignore her question. He used his other hand to cup Aurora's chin to make her look straight into his eyes.
"He pushed my hair out of my face." Aurora managed to say gripping his shoulders tighter. She was completely distracted by Derek's actions.
"Do you understand how difficult it is for me not to go into that gym and rip him apart?" Derek asked taking his hand away from her chin and running his thumb along her bottom lip.
Aurora was about to respond when Derek pulled her into a feverish kiss. Everything Aurora was trying to hold back faded away. She moved her hands from his shoulders to his hair as Derek deepened the kiss. Both of Derek's hands made their way to their usual place on Aurora's hips again making her heart flutter.
"I've missed you so much." Aurora nearly cried pulling her lips away from Derek's to catch her breath.
"I'm missed you too." Derek replied resting his forehead against Aurora's.
"We need to talk though." Aurora said in a somber tone pulling back to look at him. "I can't even begin to explain to you have confused I am. I don't understand anything that is going on with Alex and his creepy…pack." She stated.
Derek raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah, that's right. I'm finally starting to understand the terminology." Aurora chuckled. "You're an alpha…right?"
"That's right." Derek confirmed.
"Not that I'm surprised." Aurora laughed making Derek smirk. "So Isaac, Laura, Jackson, Lydia, Hailey, Erica, and Boyd are all in your pack? And they are all…like you?"
"They are all in my pack, yes. Lydia is the only human. Everyone else is like me in a sense. But they are all betas. Not alphas." Derek explained.
"Lydia is human but she's in your pack?" Aurora inquired.
"She is Jackson's mate." Derek told her.
Aurora had an epiphany.
"Mate! So werewolves can be mated to humans? That's what Randal meant when he called me…your mate."
Suddenly her conversation with Alex's pack didn't seem so strange.
"That's right. Wolves don't chose who they are mated to. It's more of an instinct. We just know. It can be a human or another werewolf. In Jackson's case it is Lydia." Derek said.
"And in your case it's me." Aurora grinned.
"Exactly princess." Derek chuckled.
"This is absolutely insane." Aurora laughed.
"Trust me when I tell you this is not how I planned on telling you about me." Derek said in disappointment.
"Ha! You planned on telling me? When? Our fiftieth wedding anniversary?" Aurora teased.
Derek gave her a sheepish grin.
"No. I was thinking our twentieth." He joked.
Aurora folded her arms across her chest.
"Anything would have been better than the way I actually found out." She scolded.
"I'm sorry Aurora. I should have told you sooner. I was just so worried…" He began.
"That I would freak out?" Aurora finished his sentence with a small laugh.
Derek nodded.
"Well, you were completely right to worry. Cause I am definitely freaking out." She told him. "But I don't want to lose you."
"You won't. Not ever." Derek promised.
"It's going to take time for me to adjust, you know that right?" Aurora asked.
"I understand. Just don't stop talking to me again. I nearly lost my mind." Derek sighed.
"I'm sorry Der. I was just so scared. I'm still scared. Werewolves are supposed to exist! I'm literally trying to convince myself I'm not crazy." Aurora said.
"You aren't crazy Aurora. And I'm sorry I've caused you pain." Derek told her.
"Derek. It's fine. I'm completely fine. And I will be as long as I have you." She smiled.
Derek gave her a short, sweet kiss.
"Can I save everything else for later?" He asked.
"Werewolf say what?" Aurora joked.
"Alpha, beta, omega." Derek rattled off. "Alphas are the wolves that lead the pack. Betas are sort of like followers. They look for an alpha for multiple reasons. Power for instance. Wolves are stronger in numbers that's why they join a pack. Same goes for the alpha. But the title isn't a constant. Betas can become alphas and alphas can fall to betas."
Aurora's head was spinning.
"What about an omega?" She asked.
"An omega is a lone wolf. That's not something we strive to become." Derek stated in a matter of fact tone.
"I'm still lost." Aurora laughed shaking her head.
"I know. I promise I will explain everything from the beginning soon. But for now, can we go inside so I can dance with you?" Derek asked with a smile.
Aurora couldn't have said no if she tried.
"Absolutely Mountain Man." She grinned as she took his hand. "Oh. You can't slightly injury, maim, and or kill Ian."
Derek scowled.
"I'm serious, don't be mean. He's super sweet." Aurora warned.
"I'll try." Derek huffed.
TO BE CONTINUED