Angeline POV

Flash forward two months, fifteen dates and an ever-growing anxious feeling installed in all of the betas, banshees and humans. Derek said he felt it too, he was tense when he came over, and I had to rub his shoulders out while we watched a movie. I still didn't get it, only two months and we act as if we'd known each other our whole lives, it was unethical and ridiculous, but it happened.

Derek had come over last night too. He laid his head in my lap, hands behind his head, eyes closed.

"You need to talk to your pack." I said, eyes fixed on the white light from my phone.

"What?"

I let my hands fall and rest on his chest, "That's what this is, tension between an Alpha and his Pack. Probably because your spending more time with me than them. Almost distancing yourself they don't like it. An Alpha is supposed to be involved in almost every aspect of his betas life. You need to do something with them, have a pack bonding night, a couple of puppy piles maybe? What's the newest threat, you guys go kick some butt all together and things will get better. Take them all out for bowling tomorrow night."

He opened his eyes, "We have a date tomorrow night."

I stared at him sideways, "And now I am cancelling on your behalf. You know pack comes first, person you go on 'dates' with comes second."

Derek became conflicted, thinking over an internal battle, picking which battle to fight first. "Alright. We'll go hunting –"

"Bowling, you guys always go hunting. It is nothing special. It may be time alone with them, but that makes it seem like they're worth nothing special. Erica and what's that one that's dating that one girl? The one that is all popular? I think he's on the lacrosse team." I was thinking hard, I knew exactly who it was and I could see him in my mind's eye from the picture Derek showed me.

"Jackson", Derek answered blatantly for me when I began snapping to jog my memory.

"Yes, that's it! He and Erica might think its lame and everything else, but they can get over it. You need time with your pack. Now you need to go and spend a down little time with them. What did Allison text you they were doing? Oh, yeah, they were having a game night. Go play some go fish, yell Yahtzee, win monopoly. Just let your pack know that you are there, and you want to hang out with them."

With that I ushered him up, tossing his jacket at him, and pushing him out the door. Derek put a grip on my forearm, "Will you just slow down? I am going to see them, I'll see you tomorrow. I'm probably going be late by about an hour or two. I already planned to do a few chases with the betas." He leaned forward, placing a gentle peck on my lips and leaned back. "Atta boy", I said with a smile as he walked away, waving his hand just a bit.

3rd Person POV

Lydia rattled a pen between her fingers, deep in thought. Allison's expression directly resembled hers, hand running through her hair. Lydia noticed her that her chocolate eyes were fixed on a random point on the ceiling. This was the way they spent many of their girl's nights. Staring off into space and thinking about whatever crossed their mind.

"Are you thinking about what I'm thinking about?" Allison turned towards her best friend, strained eyes easing.

Lydia pursed her lips, "I can't stop obsessing over Derek's new girlfriend."

Allison breathed out a grateful sigh of relief, "Thank god. I keep wondering what she's like, what she would have to be like to put up with his moodiness sometimes."

"I know, I am dying to see what she looks like. You and I both know what he looks like, but what about her?" Lydia jumped forwards, excitement beginning to course by her brain.

Allison donned a scolding look, "You know that looks don't matter. What I'm wondering is personality. She's gotta have a sarcastic side, she has to over compensate for his emotional absence."

Lydia nodded in agreement, stating, "But who knows what the rest of her personality is like. She could be hurt or sarcastic or just as rude and impartial as he is. I'm betting that she has her own spunk, testing him. And even though you don't want to talk about it, I think she's pretty attractive. Derek purposely stayed and went back again and again to that café to see her. There's definitely something special about her. Either she was some nice eye candy, or she caught his attention, and managed to keep it."

"I want to meet her. You know size her up before the pack does", Allison crossed her arms and leaned back on the arm of the chair.

"That's if Derek even lets us meet her. It's been two months, Allison, if things aren't serious enough by now to at least meet us, his pack and family, I'm not sure when we're going to meet her, if at all."

Allison scoffed, "Oh please, you know better, Lyds. Derek is being careful about mixing his love life and family life. Sometimes combining those two ends badly for both sides and the person in the middle gets screwed. If Derek isn't being the careful one than she is. She's a smart girl, protecting him like that."

"I see what you're saying, on both accounts. And I have to agree, I definitely want to meet this mystery woman. And I know just how we're going to do it." Lydia's devilish smile pulled at her lips, a smile that Allison returned in silent approval.

…

Allison and Lydia proceeded silently into the kitchen and sat down side by side at the table. The rest of the pack were finishing the last half of the movie or dozing off.

Derek looked up at them from the bowl of popcorn he'd been preparing, eyebrows shadowing his gaze of the two girls. "What?"

"Will you tell us about her?" Allison asked quietly, eyes pleading, and Lydia shared her expression.

Derek wiped his hands together to rid them of the salty seasoning he'd applied to the white fluffy cornels. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because we're insanely curious, duh. We don't want to know much, just a couple of questions. Please Derek?" The situation was like that of a pair of children begging their parent to let them get a toy at the store. Derek couldn't help but feel like the elder of the scenario.

And knowing that he would only be badgered more if he said no, he quietly replied, "Do I need to wake everyone else up and let them in on this?" They quickly and furiously shook their heads, scooting to the edge of their seats for his next comment.

He sighed and pulled up a chair to lounge in, "Make it quick."

The females jostled around for a slip of paper wrinkled with writing. "Okay", Allison started, not bothering to glance at the lined paper again. "Are we going to meet her?"

"I don't know", Derek replied as if he had already thought about this. Lydia's tiny suspicion grew ever so slightly, but brushing it off as the couple considering it, her worries were sustained.

Next it was Lydia's turn, "What does she look like?"

A fond smile almost crept its way onto Derek's lips, while he struggled against it, both girls caught sight and swooned. "She's, she's, something." They waited patiently for Derek to elaborate. "Eyes you could get lost in. Never seen anyone else with a pair like those, and I doubt I will ever find anyone else with them. She's beautiful."

Derek looked into the living room, where the remainder of teens was residing. "What is she like?"

Derek chuckled, and looked at the two of them. "Nothing like me." Lydia breather deep, "Oh thank god, I didn't think we'd be able to handle two of you, especially not a female."

Derek glared, "Do you want me to continue or not?"

Lydia raised her hands in surrender, "Please explain."

"Snarky, feisty, she stands up to me, sexy when she wants to be, got good sense of humor, pretty down to earth", Derek was feeding blanket statement answers. They were all true, but they didn't even scratch the surface.

"Aww. Wait, what's her name?" Lydia shook her head at Allison, "No, what's the name of the café where she works?"

Derek stood, crossing his arms and casting a disappointed spell over the two girls. Both girls felt their guilt instantly, they had rashly begun to ask way too personal questions and blew their operation.

"I'm not telling you. Don't investigate her. Leave it alone, maybe you'll meet her and maybe you won't. Keep all this information to yourself, if I decide that the pack won't meet her, I don't want you getting their hopes up. " He walked away, hard glare finally leaving their presence.

After they knew he'd gone upstairs and into his room, Allison let out a depressed sigh. "Now what? Derek's angry with us, and we hardly got anything that would help us find her."

"We're not completely screwed just yet", Lydia huffed with a smile on her face, and she hurriedly got up, hands digging in a black mob on hanging from one of the chairs, Derek's Jacket.

Allison gasped at their fortune, "No way are we that lucky."

"Well, you can stop praying because our Hail Mary just came true, I got a receipt from one Daily DeVille Café." Lydia squealed before she realized how loud she was. Allison beamed at her best friend and googled the address on her phone.

…

Angeline POV

The DeVille wasn't always the busiest of restaurants, most the people that came in were travelers who were just passing through, or Judy's old customers or her poker friends. Teens don't drop in much, it's not popular amongst the new youth and Karynna's too embarrassed to bring her friends here. So one could see why I was skeptical and suspicious when two very pretty teenage girls stepped in the front door.

I pretended to be texting on my phone while I eavesdropped on their conversation.

"Where should we sit?" Whispered the tall brunette. She had soft, kind brown eyes and sweet little dimples on either side of what is likely a big bright smile. The girl to her right is quite unlike her.

Red blond hair, strawberry, hazel eyes, and bright, gloss wet let lips. Her makeup and hair were done to a point, and her clothing and Prada handbag were enough to make me believe this girl was popular, and loaded. She pursed her candy pink lips, "Well waitresses serve in sections. I doubt that we're looking at an eighty year old woman, so it's between those two."

"I think it's the shorter girl, she's pretty and texting someone a lot. I doubt he would be able to stay away from that skirt, or should I say lack-there-of." He? Who's 'he'?

"Well it can't be the queen, if she were his type, he would've hit on you by now. We're looking for that woman over there, also texting on her phone. You know, he said not go looking for her, maybe we should listen."

The red head scoffed at her friend, giving her a ridiculous glance, "If we listened to everything he said, we would've all died, five times over. But I do suppose your right about Miss 'black clothing is my thing'. Sit over there." I tried not to watch them as they scurried over, crashing down into a booth.

Mentally acknowledging that now my que to step in and take their order. I slid my phone into my shallow apron pocket, removing the pad of paper besides it and a pen.

"Hi ladies, welcome to the Daily DeVille. Do you know what you want?" They looked stunned for a moment and quickly flustered, the brunette sputtering out 'we've never been here before'.

I chuckled shortly, "No worries, this place is older than the owner herself. I doubt it's all that popular at Beacon Hills High. So what brings you pair here?"

"We found a receipt at school, figured it was worth it to try", the red head bestowed a false smile my way, one that I returned when I heard her heart rate alter on the words At school, and worth it to try.

"Well, we're glad to have the company, I'll introduce you to everyone. In the kitchen is our Hawaii esteemed chef Puff, the lady in the back with the scotch in her coffee and scratcher in hand is the owner, Miss Judy DeVille. And the gossip girl by the bar, would be her granddaughter Karynna DeVille. And I will be your waitress for today, my name is Angeline." I handed them a pair of menus and stepped away, leaving them in peace to figure their meal.

"Um, what would you recommend?" The brunette was shy but put her menu down to hear my answer.

"Well, Puff makes a phenomenal spam and eggs platter with maple syrup. I'm not a spam person myself, but it's not half bad when he makes it." The primpy girl scrunched her face up a little. "Okay, well I'll have the French toast and sausage, and my friend will have the special Spam Platter." Nodding I hooked the note on the spinner for Puff, the girls quietly whispering in their seats.

I leaned on the bar, staring at the 18 year old engrossed in her phone. Her legs were crossed and one foot rested on the highest bar of the stool, giving me full view up her skirt, whether I wanted it or not.

"Karynna, put some pants on." As soon as the words left my mouth her head was up, glaring at me with squinted eyes.

"Why?"

"Because I can see you're religion. We all know that you're a female because of how low your shirts are, I do not need any more proof."

Karynna groaned and stood up from the stool, "Gram was wearing things like this when she was 18, and she was dancing on top of the counter for the customers."

"That's your defense? Judy was doing it? Your Gram was smoking second hand cigarettes and drinking wine from a box when she did that. Look at her now, now offence Judy." Judy shrugged, "None taken, it's true enough."

Karynna stomped her foot, "But this skirt isn't meant to wear shorts underneath it."

I sighed and said "Here", shimmying off my spandex shorts from beneath my dress, "Put these on."

I moved to pick up the plates from the window, Puff was breathless from laughing inside the kitchen. "Why doesn't Angeline have to wear something underneath?" Karynna was pulling on the shorts unhappily. I placed the plates before both girls as Judy answered her, "Because she can keep her legs out from in the air."

Both girls were struggling to refrain their laughter, hands covering their mouths, faces blossoming pink. "My sincerest apologies, I would say that this was abnormal, but this is an everyday occurrence."

Once they had regained composure the shorter female focused an interrogative gaze on me, hazel eyes piercing. "You have beautiful eyes. Very, unique." This caught her friends' attention immediately, she acted cautiously, noticing my eyes for the first time, and attempting to be nonchalant about analyzing me.

"Thank you, auburn eyes are in fact a rarity, and as you may know, beautiful things aren't always in the highest supply. Besides, the both of you have very pretty eyes as well. That whole 'eyes are windows to the soul' thing is crap, but a person's irises can in fact tell a whole lot. For example, you - ", I pointed to the brunette, "are kind. You've got those smile wrinkles that show you smile out of care. One and two go hand in hand."

"You're smarter than your average waitress." The taller girl wasn't surprised, more a knowing tone than not.

"Ladies, I'm very smart. I chose this job for the hours and the hospitality, you'd be amazed by the other opportunities I've had. But what about you two? You both seem intelligent, strong."

"Allison and I are just your average highschool girls. A little fame here and there, grades aren't too bad."

"Now that's a lie." They seemed a little startled at first, it didn't take werewolf hearing to know that she was fibbing about grades fame. And the name Allison set in stone the secret suspicion I had been nursing, Allison and Lydia. "You are both very smart girls, judging by the questions you're asking. And that lipstick that you reapplied just after eating proves that you wear it often. Symptoms of a girls with popular attributes, and you Allison, Are best friends with her, and you can hold your own." I smiled at them, standing and replacing the stool I'd moved, "I have to go make a phone call since my shift is almost up. Let me know if you need anything."

I walked briskly into the back room pulling out my phone and texting Derek.

I think I've got a pair of your girls in the café

He didn't reply immediately, and I wasn't sure that he would. I didn't know what time his chases with the betas would end, but it was near the time he said he would be done. I honed in on the girls conversation as I waited for his reply.

"I can't believe that's her." Allison exclaimed through whisper.

"He gave us vague information on purpose, he didn't want to go into detail. But he definitely wasn't wrong, she's beautiful, short, curvy, angelic face." Lydia was almost on a high from the way her voice sounded.

"It's no surprise they're together. She can push his buttons and get into his mind."

My phone buzzed, what? Derek replied.

Two of your girls are here in a booth. Very sweet, they know exactly who I am.

The reply was instantaneous, Allison and Lydia?

Indeed, Darling. Are you on your way?

I am now.

I bit my lip, Maybe you shouldn't. It's probably not best for you to set any of their suspicions in place. Don't say anything, if you're not ready for me to meet them then now wouldn't be the best time. Sighing heavily in a way that didn't relieve any of the angst I was feeling, I hit send, glancing back at the girls from behind the wall.

Are you sure?

I figured he would know I was lying if I said that I were completely fine, but I responded anyways.

Yeah, you'll be here later right? We can talk then.

His reply took longer this time, carefully worded. That's good, I won't talk to them, don't say anything either. I'll be there later.

I sent a smile emoji and then regretted it. I know that meeting Derek's pack holds the same if not more importance than meeting his parents. This was meeting everyone that really mattered. As much as I wanted to meet them, and I really do want to meet them. But if Derek didn't want me to meet them, or wasn't ready I should say, then I wouldn't meet them. It hurt a little to know that he didn't want me to know them. But it wasn't my decision.

I dropped my phone in the pocket, walking with purpose out to the only occupied table. "Girls if there's nothing else, I will get you your check." I only paused for a moment to speak before moving again over to the register.

"I saw you on your phone just now. Texting your knight in shining armor?" Karynna smiled like she was trying to start something, she really does live for the gossip.

"If he's a knight in shining armor then I was the homecoming queen", I didn't look up.

"Well were you? Homecoming queen I mean?"

"Honey, I lived in Boston. I as too open minded and rugged to win Homecoming queen." I took a moment to look at Karynna while, "He is no knight, and I am no princess, Karynna."

"Well by that look on your face there's trouble in the kingdom." She crossed her arms and jutted her hip like she knew better. I picked up the receipt, "Can't have Problems in a relationship that's hardly started."

"Oh really?" I looked over my shoulder as I rounder the counter, whispering over my shoulder, "He doesn't even call me his girlfriend."

I dropped off the receipt on the table without looking and sauntered back to the bar. "Doesn't or wont?" I put a hand on my hip, and listened to Lydia and Allison in the background. They were mumbling about whether Derek had called me as girlfriend or not.

"Lord knows, or he knows, but I sure as heck don't." I put a forearm on the counter and put minimal weight on it as I heard the girls get up to leave behind me. "Karynna, why don't you wait a little longer before inquiring how solid my relationship is?" I heard Lydia and Allison pause behind me, probably to listen closer.

She huffed, "I'm just wondering how sure this guy is. You've going out for two months, plus the one month of back and forth before you made the first move. He doesn't call you his girlfriend after 3 months? Angie, that's gotta hurt."

"I didn't say it didn't."

"Then why are you still doing this. A relationship isn't a relationship if it's not going anywhere."

"There are somethings you don't get, Karynna. I don't know if he's going to call me his girlfriend, or show me to his family. But it's his decision, and there's no point in worrying about it. Besides, I think your phone went off. I'm sure there's some new gossip ring you need to be included in." With that I turned sharply and walked out the back door, ignoring that the girls were still standing unsuspectingly by the door.

I stood in the alley behind the DeVille, hugging my arms and leaning my butt against the wall. If it were anyone else, Karynna would've hit the nail on the head, but this was special circumstance. A large, and albeit more logical, part of me knew that when it was right to meet the pack, I would. But the other part was more persistent and wanted to dive in, see the way he acted around them, and watch his actions. But there is nothing I can do, and I need to suck it up. I heard a car rev and stop, and my phone went off in my pocket. I guess I'd missed Lydia and Allison leaving.

I'm here, I don't see you through the window.

I sighed and replied, I'm here, just out back. You come in, I'll be right there.

I took a deep breath and walked in, Karynna was giving Derek – who sat in his usual booth – disapproving stare. She gave a careful glance my direction and I glared as I passed, "Not a word."