Derek's POV

Chloe has always been a calm and composed person since I met her. Sure, she had her moments where she got defensive, but tonight she went all out on her aunt of all people. Chloe was a tiny girl with a look of a child and a soft side that made you want to be her friend. Seeing her snap at Lauren the way she had not only shocked me, but it impressed me. She always came off as some push-over to everyone, but seeing her stand up to her aunt the way she did won her a bunch of points from me.

She defended me in a way that no one ever has before and I wasn't sure how to feel about it. Normally, it was Simon or Dad defending me - not that I needed it - but to have my own girlfriend stand up for me against her aunt's personal problems - that showed a lot of guts. And she loved her aunt dearly; she was like the mother Chloe needed.

I'm sitting on the couch with Simon and Tori when Dad comes back downstairs. After Chloe went upstairs, everyone else scattered about the house while the three of us stayed in the living room. Dad came in and sat down next to Tori. Simon leaned in, waiting for Dad to say something.

"How is she?" Simon asked when no one said anything.

"She's angry," Dad says.

"That much is obvious," Tori says. "I have never seen Chloe get so worked up before." She looks over at me. "What did you do to her Wolf Boy?"

I growl escapes my lips. "Stop calling me that."

Dad holds up a hand, silencing us. "I think there's been enough fighting in this house for one day."

I sigh heavily and get to my feet. "I'm gonna go check on Chloe." I leave the room.

...

I knock on the door but don't get an answer. I knock again, this time a little louder. No answer. I turn the knob and open the door, peeking my head in and see Chloe looking out the window. I'm not sure what she's looking at, but she seems really focused on it. I walk in and close the door behind me. I stride over to her until I'm right behind her. She doesn't seem to have heard me, which isn't unusual; even though I'm big for my age, I move in complete silence.

I gently place my hands around her waist and she jumps and I pull away, startled myself. She turns around with a scared expression, but it disappears as soon as she sees it's me.

"After everything that's happened, you're still the skittish Necromancer I met in Lyle House," I tease, trying to lighten her mood. I can sense she's still a little worked up over the incident with Lauren downstairs.

"After everything that's happened, I've assumed to expect the worst," Chloe says sadly, looking down at the floor.

I wrap my arms around her again and pull her against me. With my forefinger, I tilt her chin up so her eyes meet mine.

Comfort her, I hear Phelan whisper inside my head.

How?

Rub her back, kiss her head, soothe her with gentle words. She'll be all yours.

I pull Chloe's down to rest against my chest and she does so without hesitation. I stroke her hair and rub her back at the same time and I can feel her relaxing into me and I feel good that I can calm her down, even after an intense argument like the one earlier.

"Derek?" Chloe pulls her head back and looks up at me.

I look down at her. "What?"

A moment later, Chloe's lips are on mine. Whoa. Is this okay? No, of course not. She just had an argument with her aunt and she's still upset. I can't do this knowing she's only acting out.

Is she really acting out, dude? And it's a simple kiss!

I've seen this happen. Someone gets upset - so upset that they use those feelings to channel sexual tension in the room until no one can take it and then it happens. I can't allow that to happen with Chloe. She's so delicate, I can't do that to her.

I pull away.

"Derek?" The worry in her voice doesn't go unnoticed.

"I, um..." I step back, releasing her from my arms. The look on her face is hurt and surprised. It hurts me to deny her even after such an emotional feud, but I can't let my...hormones or urges get the better of me. And I know that it only takes a kiss to lose yourself.

Look at her, she wants you and you're denying her?

I am not going to take advantage of her while she's in such a hurtful state of mind right now.

But she is our mate, Derek, we must take her.

Okay, but - wait, what?

You heard me. Chloe Saunders is our mate. Surely you knew that when you met her back at the group home.

How do you know about the group home? And how do you know anything for that matter?

I may not have been present until recently, but I have been watching.

O-Okay, maybe I knew that back at Lyle House, but that still gives me no right to take advantage of her.

"Derek?" Chloe's voice breaks me from my conversation with my...inner wolf?

"Sorry," I mutter.

Chloe steps forward until we're close enough that our bodies are almost touching. I can feel her tension slide away as she approaches me. Maybe she does know what she's doing; she has the entire time we've been together. But...could she really be my mate? How do I know? How can I tell?

You know because there's nothing you wouldn't do for her, Derek. She's the one you want to protect, to love. You've known this for weeks.

For some reason, my mind trails back to Cole. I want to know why he went out after Chloe instead of coming to me or Simon to go after her. She's my girlfriend.

She is mine.

"Der-"

I don't give her a chance to say anything else before I wrap a hand around the back of her neck and pull her face to mine, our lips crashing together. I wrap my other hand around the small of her back. Our lips battle and teeth clash together before I reach down, wrap my arms around her legs and haul her up so we're at eye level of each other. I'm not sure if I should just sit back and let things run through or if I should stop because something in the back of my mind is warning me not to do this.

Well, when I think about now, kissing isn't so wrong but the idea of how far beyond that this could go, that's what concerns me. I'm afraid Chloe might act out and attempt to sleep with me out of spite to her aunt. I want to be with Chloe so bad it hurts sometimes, but letting someone's emotions blind them because a family member pissed them off is no reason to lose your virginity. Especially the safe that belongs to a friend of your dad's.

Chloe's lips eagerly begin kissing down my neck when Tori's voice thunders outside the door.

"You're a liar, Kit Bae! Go to hell!" Her footsteps run down the hall, down the stairs and out the front door. Chloe pulls back and looks at me and the door. She's breathing heavily and her cheeks are red.

"I think we need a break," I tell her. She swallows and nods before unwrapping her legs from around my waist. I set her down on her feet and help her straighten her clothes. The redness in her cheeks I'm not sure she can explain.

When Chloe seems calmer now, she looks up into my eyes - her baby blues as light and beautiful as ever - and she sighs heavily.

"I'm sorry," she says.

I frown. "For what?"

She passes her hand from me to her. "This. I was just so angry with my aunt. I didn't mean -"

"Chloe," I cut in, "it's okay. It's not like we...had sex or anything."

"I know, but I need to learn to keep my emotions in check"

I shake my head and pull her into my arms again. "There is nothing wrong with venting your feelings."

She says nothing further. Instead she wraps her arms around my waist and we stand there in a motionless silence for a few moments before she tilts her head back to look at me again.

"We should probably see what's happening."

I nod and I follow her out of the bedroom.