Chapter 23

Derek’ POV

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I didn’t know why I said that but I needed to make that fact clear. I couldn’t name anything about the incident which happened between us last night but I didn’t want her to feel like I abandoned her.

I quickly removed my hand from her cheeks and moved back.

“So, this was the reason why you called me here?”, I asked, doubting her intention to call me this urgent.

“I…”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Your father is mad.”

“Mad? But why?”

“Well, I was playing with my daughter when I received the news that you asked me to see you at your office as soon as possible. Scar, my daughter started crying really bad when I was about to leave, gaining everyone’s attention.”

“And Dad saw everything, didn’t he?”, She asked on which I nodded my head. “Damn it, I feel like a bitch right now.”, She said, feeling guilty.

“It’s fine, Luna. Don’t feel bad about it.”

“No. It’s not fine. I am so sorry, Derek.”, She said. “Since it was my mistake. Now, I have to make it up for you. You can have fun with your daughter for a week or days. You can take her to Disneyland and all the places which will be best for her.’

I smiled at her suggestion. “Thank you, Luna. I will surely take her with me on a small vacation but before that I have to tell you a message from your dad. Alpha Asher has asked for your presence as soon as possible at their home, he wants to see you.”

“This doesn’t sound like a request.”, She muttered.

“Well, this is definitely not. He was mad when he said this.”

“I can understand the reason behind it. Anyways, how about we both leave for our parent’s house after finishing the pending work?”

“Sounds great to me.”

***

Stacey’s POV

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“I’m ready.”, I smiled coming out of my bedroom with a small bag, knowing that my parents wouldn’t let me leave too soon. I had dressed in a pair of denim shorts and a white strappy tee.

“Fuck!”, I heard Derek hiss under his breath.

I looked up at him, confused. I soon realized why he had responded like that. His eyes were trailing to my bare legs. His eyes were wandering up my body, falling on the small amount of cleavage that was shown with the tee I had on. I felt myself becoming self-conscious with the way he was looking at me.

His eyes finally met mine and he was not even trying to hide that he was checking me out.

“Derek?”

“Hmm”

“Done checking me out?”, I asked, raising my brow.

“Excuse me? What are you talking about?”, He shrugged innocently and acted like nothing. “Ready to go?”, He added

“Yep. My bag.”, I said pointing toward it.

“After you, Luna.”, He laughed after picking my bag and signaled me to leave first.

***

“You know you can take suggestions from me about where you should take your daughter with you because I am experienced in it. Dad used to take me to all those places even though I grew up because I used to love riding on roller coasters.”

“Hell no, I am not taking Scar to those things.”, He said sternly.

“Don’t tell me you are afraid of it?”, I laughed.

“I am not afraid of anything.”, He lied. I could easily smell that.

“Fine then. I will take Scar with me on those rides.”

“No way! Neither you nor Scar are allowed, sorry. There is no chance I am watching both of you on that scary thing.”, He said seriously, more like ordered.

Was he serious right now? What did he think of himself, my Alpha, or My father? I cooked my brow at him.

“And who are you? My father or My Alpha?”, I laughed.

“No. But I am surely my daughter's father and also it’s safer that way. As a friend I will take some sort of panic attack watching you on that scary thing.”

“Then don’t watch it.”, I shrugged laughing.

“And that is difficult for me.’, He mumbled under his breath.

“Did you just say something?”, I asked innocently as if I didn’t hear anything.

“Nope. Nothing!”, He replied, focusing back on his driving. It seemed like he forgot that I was a werewolf, who could clearly hear even a whisper.

After an hour!!

“Derek, Stop the car near Peter's Bakery. They sell the best cakes in the entire town. I have to get one for Mom and Dad.”

“Sure.”

“Come in. You can even get a cake for your parents.”, I suggested when Derek decided to wait in the car until I came back.

“N..”

“Come in, please, please, please, please!!!”, I requested before he could say NO to my suggestion.

“Okay, fine!”

“Stacey, sweetie! It’s been a while.”, I heard Uncle Peter calling my name cheerfully. “Moon goddess, you are so grown up already!”

“Hello Uncle Peter. How are you? I missed you!”

“Oh, you my little princess…”, He quickly hugged me and the handsome old man turned to Derek. “Did you bring your chosen mate this time? Hello, Handsome!”

“Hello, I’m Derek. I am her Beta not...

"And not just my chosen mate but also the love of my life.", I said, cutting him off.

‘Why did you lie to him?’, His voice rang in my mind.

'Because I didn't want to make him upset.', I replied and after that, I didn't hear any question from him.

"I am so happy to hear that.", Uncle Peter said. "Come on, I got your favorite table."

He took us to a great spot, a little table with a view of the forest and the river at the same time. Giving us the menus, he was still looking fondly at me.

"Oh Princess, I feel so nostalgic seeing you here again! You know, young man, this woman used to come here every single day when she was a kid and till her teenage! Oh, Stacey, I remember you hanging out with your friends and doing all your assignments and projects on this very table, with your favorite white forest pastry.

"Can I get the same pastry today, Uncle Peter?"

"Sure, you can, princess! And what would you like to drink young man?"

"I'll have the same as Stacey."

“Peter”, I heard someone calling his name.

"Okay! Take your time, I’ll send someone else for your order. I will recommend you both to go through the menus once.”, Saying this he took off quickly and I sighed with a smile.

“He loves you a lot,”, Derek said.

“I know and I love him too.”

***

“Here is your order, guys.”, The pretty human brunette said, smiling at us, she was over-friendly. “Have you decided what else you are going to order?”

“Thank you. But I don’t need anything except water.”, Derek smiled. I could see Derek was affecting her. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him, which was something I was sure he was used to. Though Derek never seemed to be paying much attention to her, as she was stunning.

“What about you”, She asked me but still looking at Derek.

“Black Coffee please.”, I smiled at her.

“Okay. Are you sure about your order, Sir?”, She asked Derek again.

“Yep! Pretty sure.”, He said with a smile.

Derek was clueless about what he was doing to her. As soon as she walked away I burst out laughing, Derek looking at me confused.

“Are you tha oblivious? She was flirting with you.”, I giggled.

“I know, but I am not here to flirt with waitress.”, He shrugged.

“You know you have to start from somewhere to move on in your life.”

“Maybe you can be right but not in this situation. I am here with you and pretending as your mate so there is no wayI am going to spend my time flirting with some random girl and embarrass you infront of everyone.”

I smiled when he said, finding it kind of sweet of him. I was glad, though. I didn’t think I would fancy being left alone on my own for him to go flirt with someone else.

The waitress came back with my black coffee and his water. I smiled at her and thanked her. Derek thanked her but never even looked at her. She seemed disappointed about that which made me feel bad for a little, but she brushed it off and walked away.

“I think she didn’t like your behaviour.”

“Who? The waitress?”, He asked and I nodded. “No offense but all she had an idea that we are together, maybe my girlfriend or my wife. So, the fact she was trying to hit me without considering that makes me lose a little respect for her.”, He said seriously.

‘I like him’, Alicia said, agreeing with him.

‘Yeah, me too!’

“You know, you can come over this place with Scar.”, I said, pointing toward the river. “You can plan a small picnic with your parents and her. I am sure you would love it.”

“I will talk with my parents about it.”, He said and smiled.

***

“I’ll drive now.”, I said once we were out and walked toward the car.

“Fine. Here”, He said, throwing the key in my direction which I caught it perfectly. “Great, catch!”, He winked.

“I know! Thank you.”

I placed the cakes which we had bought for our parents in the back seat and then I grabbed the driver’s seat to start the car. But I was not able to lock the seatbelt.

“Oh! I forgot to tell that it has some issues while locking and unlocking. Let me help you with it.”

“Yes, please.”

I felt my breath hitched when he came close to me to get the seatbelt. I was hoping for him to move away from me as soon as possible because this position was forcing me to think about the dirty thoughts.

“Why your face started getting red?”, He asked in concern, still not moving back.

“I am good.”, I tried, really trying not to be stammered. The position we were now in making thoughts run through my head that should not be there, dirty ones.

"Are you blushing right now?", He chuckled this time.

"I'm not."

"Ofcourse you are."

I shook my head, trying to deny it.

'Why are you holding yourself? We both know what does he want?', Alicia said back in my mind. Derek reached closer to me, using his fingers to push my hair away from my face. His lips seemed to be inching closer to mine. His fresh, hot breath tickled my face. He ran his fingers through my hair before his hand landed on my cheek. My full body was on fire, knowing where this was leading.

"Derek...", I managed to breathe out.

"Don't ruin this moment.", He said, his voice a little shaky. I nodded, doing what he wanted. He closed the small space between us, his lips pressing against mine softly. A small whimpered fell from my lips. I reached up, running my fingers through his hair, deepening the kiss. Derek's hand slowly slid down my sides before grasping my lips gently in my hands.

I was not sure whatever we were doing was right or not, but it felt good. What started as a gentle kiss soon became more. The kiss became more frantic. Derek's tongue pushed by my lips and into my mouth, nudging mine. I groaned, letting mine meet the motion of his. I ran my fingertips down his back, feeling his every muscle flex under my touch. It was a passionate kiss. I could feel my entire body reacting to the kiss.

Derek, all of a sudden, abruptly pulled away from me.

"Fuck, Rex!", He cursed, running his fingers through his hair. He moved, sitting on the seat beside me. Even I started staring at the road, feeling uneasy all of a sudden. "Stacey, I am so sorry. I should not have donw that. I..."

"It's fine, Derek. Not a big deal.", I said, giving him a reassuring smile.

I started the engine and tried not to think about the fact which just happened. It would be better if we would act like that kiss never happened.

I dropped Derek at his parent's house as it was on my way to my home and was about to leave that’s when his mother saw me. And leaving from there, without greeting them would look a little rude.

“Stacey, Were you leaving without saying Hello to us?”, Derek’s Moher asked raising her brow.

I looked at Derek for help and I was glad that he did.

“Mom, don’t start scolding her. She is not a child now.”, He said.

“And why is so?”

Now it looked like Derek was in trouble because he opened his mouth to answer her but nothing came out.

“I’m so sorry Mrs. Randell. I was in a little hurry today, that's why I had thought of visiting you tomorrow.”

“Oh, I see.”, She nodded her head in an understanding way. “By the way, I had heard about you two being together now. I didn’t believe it earlier but after seeing how you both are trying to defend each other. It’s confirmed by the news.”, Mrs. Randell smiled at the idea of us being together.

“We are only pretending, Mom. I will explain everything to you later. So, don’t overthink it.”

“But…”

“Mom”, Derek warned her mother before she could have said anything on this topic. She sighed and shook her head. “Fine! Stacey, dear, I want to hear everything from you. So, you need to come over for dinner when you will be free..”

I was not sure whether that was a good idea or not. I could tell her no, though I would feel horrible.

“I would like that, thank you. But I am not sure whether Derek will like that or not. I mean he may feel bad that you are giving more importance to me.”, I said to enlighten the surrounding.

“Who cares about him? We women can also have fun.”, She joked.

“Hey! That was mean, Mom. Don’t forget that you are my mother not hers.”, Derek whined like a child and then turned toward me. “And Stacey, I don’t feel bad. So, don’t worry about that.”, He smiled.

I smiled when I saw how happy Mrs. Randell looked.

“I should be leaving now. Mom and Dad will be waiting for me.”, I said.

“Yeah sure!”, Mrs. Randell said. “I think Scar is awake. I am going to check on her.”, She said or made an excuse to leave us alone.

Derek and I stood silently for the first couple of minutes and then looked toward the Car. “I am leaving your car over here. Alicia is nagging me to let her come out.”

“Okay! Just inform me, when you reach home.”

“Hmm”, I nodded my head and jumped in the air only to land like a wolf on the ground. Alicia stared at Derek for a while before running toward our home.

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#TBC