Chapter 13
By the time we had reached Quenten, Spencer and I were hot and sweaty. Farren and Derek hadn't lingered for even a second, and they had seemed to forget that we humans still needed to take breaks.
Quenten was a tiny little town, and I had no idea where in a place like this we'd find a car rental company. Many little white brick houses lined the roads, and a school sat in the distance, closed today because it was Sunday, although there were a few cars parked on the premises. From where we were, I could also see a little gas station and a five and dime grocery store. Everything about this little town screamed homey, and it didn't have room to make way for us. Everyone probably knew each other, and I'm quite sure strangers were something they didn't get a lot. It was hard to believe someone like Natalie lived merely miles away and could easily destroy this town. A child's scream echoed from a ball court beside the school, and I watched as a young boy chased a girl with, more than likely, a worm or some insect. "All right, let's go. This place is creepy." Said Derek. "You're a werewolf that lives with seven vampires and, at the moment, two humans. But this normal little town gives you the creeps?" Farren asked, raising an eyebrow. Derek grimaced and didn't answer, but instead walked quickly down the sidewalk ahead of us. "I'll never understand him, I swear." Farren mumbled to me as we fought to catch up. "It's probably because this town is homey and seemingly cheery." I said, and Farren smiled.
I am not quite sure how, but along the way, a little car rental stop appeared. Derek didn't hover around, and went inside. "Let's stay out here, I'm sure he'll be intimidating enough to handle this on his own." Farren suggested and propped herself against the wall. Within a few minutes, Derek reappeared, presenting us with a set of keys. "Do I even have to guess what car you picked?" Farren asked, rolling her eyes. "Not unless you want to." Derek said as a black Camaro, identical to the one we'd left at Natalie's, pulled around the corner of the little building. "Why am I not surprised?" she asked, climbing into the shotgun seat. I giggled to myself and waited as Derek pulled the driver seat forward. "Your turn Aaden," he said, motioning for me to climb in. I did, then strapped in next to Spencer. "Watch your feet," Derek said as he laid the seat back.
It didn't take us long to get back, as Derek had gone no less than seventy down these treacherous roads. Never had the mansion looked so homely, and I was thrilled to be back after the time we had spent in Mother Nature. "Where the hell have you guys been?! The full moon is tomorrow night!" Vlad and his fellow vampire friend, Ethan, appeared almost as soon as we'd pulled into the garage. "Don't you think I'm aware of that?" Derek asked angrily, "We ran into a few problems. The point is that we're back. Has my pack been prepping for it?" "Yes and no." Ethan said. "What the hell does that mean?" Derek's eyebrows rose, and he nonchalantly reached back to help me out of the car. "It means yes and no. Some of them are having a harder time than others, you know better than anyone what they're going through." "And my new wolves?" "Struggling. To say they're eager for your return is putting it lightly. Isaac, Erica and Boyd are having the hardest go." Ethan shrugged, scratching at an itch that probably didn't exist. Derek sighed, and I hadn't noticed until then that he hadn't let go of my hand.
"Tell Jared to round up the brand new wolves and bring them to the gym. He and the others are going to need to be monitored for the next forty-eight hours. I need Vance and a couple others to take up time training them until I get down there. Remember to make them say the words." "On it." With that, Ethan and Vlad slipped away, whisking down the halls.
"Are your new wolves in danger?" I asked, suddenly worried, and more than in just a friendly way. "No," Derek said gently, half-smiling at me genuinely, "they're going to be fine. The first full moon is always the worst. More than likely, it'll be just a lot of sparring and torn up equipment, but they'll make it through." I felt like a weight had been taken off of my chest. The wolves were not going to kill each other or anyone else. "Derek?" I asked, gently wiggling my fingers, still trapped in his. "Uh, yeah," he said, letting go. "What kinds of words do they have to say?" He put a hand against the small of my back and led me up toward my room. "Just a sort of chant, really. There are two different pieces that the wolves use to try and keep control of themselves. It helps for when they're scared, angry, hurt or just trying to stay human." "Could I watch you train them tonight?" "No," he said without hesitation, "if I even so much as lose control of them for a half a second, it could kill you. I've never talked to an Alpha who has lost a Luna, and I don't want to find out what it's like. So for both of our sakes, please stay safe up here."
His words were gentle, but there was a rough edge to them. I don't know if there was ever going to be a day I could make up for the women who had tainted love for him, but I was going to start by being a strong listener. Sure, as the Luna, Farren had told me that I was going to challenge him, but loyalty and obedience showed strength too. Already, my loyalty to him ran skin deep. Whether I was ever turned, or just to the day that I died, he'd be a part of me. He'd forever be anchored to me because of what we were to be. Now, being obedient was what I needed to do. "Okay, Derek. I'll remain here. I might go to the balcony for some air. Care to join me?" He looked surprised, but followed me. "I meant what I said Aaden," he began. "I know, Derek, I'm going to listen. I'll stay up here, I promise." "Not that, although you'd better listen, because I'll be very pissed if I have to fight through angry, uncontrollable wolves to get to your ass and take you back up." He shifted to his other foot and rested his hands in the pockets of his jacket, "I was referring to the date. After the night of the full moon, I'm going to take you out somewhere." I raised an eyebrow, looking at him as I spoke. "I'm not asking you to Derek, I understand the situation is fragile." "I know you're not asking me. That's the point. Aaden, I'm having to work toward accepting you, not just as a girlfriend or even a date, but as my mate. There's never been a time I couldn't dispose of a girl of my choice whenever I felt like it," his eyes seemed a darker gray than ever, "and now, I'm pretty much drawn to you every waking moment. I've never had to share my position or power with anyone, there's never been a partner or even a right hand man. All of that is changing now." "Derek, if I could, I'd promise to not step up, but that's kind of impossible. If I'm already feeling it now, and apparently so is everyone else, well, I don't think I can deny it." "That's how it's supposed to be. That's what the responsibility of an Alpha is, it's to care and fight and watch out for. In a way, it's serving really. Even though you are human, you are the Luna, and as much as I've wanted to, I can't fight that, and trying to keep the wolves from you would only damage you. And if hurts you, it hurts me." "Why does this sound like a nicer way of you saying, "Well, I don't like it, but I don't want you to be an even bigger pain in my ass, so I'll deal with you"?" I was suddenly very uncomfortable. "I didn't mean it like that Aaden." he said, stepping closer to me, "Look, feel." He took my hand and pressed it against his broad chest, right on his heart. A type of restoration came over me. With every beat of his heart, it was like a new breath of clean air, and from it I felt the truth of his words. When I opened my eyes to question him, he was watching me intently. "Does that work for you too?" My cheeks flushed deep when I heard my dreamily enraptured voice. He gave me a very small and gentle smile and nodded before stepping away. "We're meant to renew each other. The bond between packmates is forever, but the bond between Alpha and Luna is eternal." His words were wise. The way he was slightly opening up was enough to make me want to cry with happiness. I didn't want to say that I loved him, but I was beginning to feel it. The thought that he may be feeling the same way made me nervous, but it excited me too.
"Anyway," he said, breaking my train of thought, "wear something nice. I'll remind you again the night before. It doesn't have to be a dress, but I'd like that." He smiled somewhat deviously and slowly turned and walked back down the hall towards the gym, leaving me there with a racing heart and a wandering mind.