Chapter 41

Derek's POV

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After spending a week in Paris and another in Switzerland, both Stacey and I returned to our pack because there were tones of work waiting for us. Though I knew the thing going on in Stacey's pack but had no idea about the pack of which I had become the Alpha. It was not that I had no idea about the pack members or people staying here. Since I was born and brought up here, I knew everyone here but not the internal information and the details.

"How will we handle the things? Of course! We just can't jump from here to there" Stacey said the same thing I thought. Thankfully, she was now over her vomiting phase in these two weeks. Now, she keeps demanding food, not that I was complaining about that part.

It was just that I was enjoying this phase, and I didn't want to miss all these moments with my mate because of work.

"Well, I guess both the packs needed to be merged again just like before in your father's reign or before your wedding with your ex-mate."

"I would have understood even if you wouldn't have mentioned him.", She muttered, rolling her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Luna.", I whispered in her ear, tickling her slightly. She giggled and pushed herself against me.

"You will be forgiven only when you make love to me," she said, licking her lip with her tongue.

"Don't you think you are getting horny day by day?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her.

"It's not me. It's a pup who is making me act like this. You know, hormonal change, right!", She responded innocently, giving me her puppy look.

That was it.

Our honeymoon was a memorable one. It broke the last string of self-control that I was holding for hours. We ended up making love to each other once again in the jet's cabin. We spend time exploring the places we visit and, at the same time, exploring each and everything about us.

"I was thinking of visiting Scarlett before going to pack.", Stacey said out of nowhere. "I know that you are keeping an eye on her from a distance, but still, I want to meet her personally. I have to see how she has been doing?"

"Sure, sweetheart. Even I want to check on her but wasn't sure how you would react about that part.", I confessed.

"You don't have to think so much about all these things. It's not that you'll kiss her right in front of me. She is your friend, and possessiveness doesn't mean controlling your social life."

'Woah! How awesome is she!' Rex complimented.

'Just her or even me?' Alicia asked. He purred, hearing her voice again. That was my wolf or said love ick puppy. I let them talk and block myself from hearing their conversation. A few months later, they could enjoy their ME time together by playing and running into the woods together.

"Rex is damn too sweet for an Alpha wolf, you know.", Stacey said when I helped her with the dress.

"He is sweet just for her mate. I doubt he will talk like this with someone else. Heck! He gave complimented me; leave about the others.", I muttered and crouched to help her with the straps of the heels. Stacey giggled before speaking.

"You know, my bump is not that big. I can do that on my own."

"I know you can do that on your own, but did you forget that it's not just you who is pregnant. Even I'm pregnant.", I reminded her again on which she rolled her eyes.

"And there I thought only the wolf is sweet.", She mumbled. From that moment, I learned that in pregnancy, females feel incredibly uncomfortable while bending. I started doing it for her even though I was early, but I didn't mind that. Pregnant or not. I could do this all my life. I softly touched her feet.

"Don't.", She warned. "Don't tease me, sweetheart, or I will want you to make love to me again, but at the same time, I'm feeling tired, so just DON'T.", She added with a frown.

"Sure, Luna.", I grinned, standing on my feet while she glared.

*****

As we had discussed, after landing, we asked the driver to take the car directly to Scarlett's place. And after ringing the doorbell, I frowned, sensing something of an unfamiliar scent. After waiting for a while, Scarlett's father, Richard, opened the door.

"Derek, what a pleasant surprise!", He greeted me with a warm smile and then looked at Stacey and then her little bump. "Is she your wife?"

"Hello, Richard! And Yes, she's my wife, Stacey."

"I know her name. After all, she was the one who was bearing our daughter's medical expenses even though her accident was not Stacey's fault. Thank you again, dear.!! Oh, shoot! Where are my manners!" he apologized. "Come in," He said, stepping aside so that we could come in. Rex started pacing around in my mind in worry sensing the smell of rotten food, which meant only one thing, Rouges! But that smell was faint, which meant only one thing whoever was here was not here anymore.

'Are you thinking the same thing I'm?' Stacey asked through the mind link.

'Yes!'

"Why don't you grab a seat?" Richard asked. "Dory! Come out, darling, see who is here?" he said, calling Scarlett's mother, who was busy in the kitchen."

Derek. "Why are you shouti… How are you, young man?"

"I'm good. Dory. Thank you. How are you?"

"Great as usual" And then her eyes landed on Stacey. "You two look great together."

"Thank you, Dory. Where is Scarlett?" I asked, sensing that she was not home.

"She is not home. If she has any idea that you two are coming here, she won't have left. Let's check on her to see when she will be back!" Dory said, looking for her phone while I shifted my gaze to Richards.

"If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me where she is? And did she leave home alone?" I asked in concern.

"Don't worry! She is not alone, and she went on a date.", Richard responded.

"A date?" Stacey asked to reconfirm. I was not mad or jealous that my ex went on a date! But my gut feeling was telling me that whoever was the guy who took her on a date was that Rouge!

"Yes! They met last week, and I don't know how within a week, they came this close as if they are soulmates or something.", Richard joked.

Was that Rouge the right choice for Scar?

I didn't want to die daily by staying by his side because Rouge was generally cruel and mean to everyone and humans were their easiest target because they were weak.

"How much do you know about that man, Richard? I mean, I'm just getting worried for her. Is that guy good for her?"

"I don't know much about him except his first name 'Aaron.' But yes, I have never seen Scar this happy. The last time I saw her this happy was with…" he didn't complete his sentence looking at Stacey, thinking she might feel bad about it.

At the same time, I didn't miss hearing Dory's conversation with Scarlett over the phone.

'What? Derek and Stacey are there? I'll be there in five minutes. We were already on the way home.'

"Okay then! I will tell them about it. By the way, how did your date go?"

'It was amazing, Mom. I loved it. He even proposed to me for the marriage.'

"And what did you say?"

'Yes! Obviously. He doesn't mind how many days are left in my life, but he wants to have all those days.', She chirped. I could already imagine that girlish smile on her face.

Immediately I was distracted from what I heard that name again 'Aaron.'

"....might not be a friendly person or a person with few words, but I can see care and concern in his eyes for Scar.", Richard said.

"What does he do? I mean as work or profession?" I corrected myself.

"I don't know again, but he looks like a goon to me.", Richard joked again. "I mean, his neck and hands are filled with various types of tattoos. I'm sure he would have those all body his chest where I didn't want to go. Aaron looks like a badass guy and too intense to me, who doesn't take shit from others."

'Well, generally rouges are like that only, who doesn't take shit from others. They think themselves as highly as if they are above Alpha.'

'Aaron? I think I have heard this name.' I asked Rex, who looked clueless. 'Stacey, have you heard Aaron's name before?'

'I don't know. I don't remember any guy with this name in my life.', She answered, and immediately that rotten smell of food hit hard in my nose as if I would puke now.

"Washroom, please?" Stacey asked, feeling uneasy. I just thought while she was ready to puke.

"That way.", Richard guided.

"Thank you!!", She said and tried to leave from there as soon as possible, but I accompanied her to the washroom. She was now over this stage, but all thanks to that Aaron who brought Stacey back to her previous state.

"Oh my god! Are you alright?" Scarlett almost ran toward us when she saw us coming out of the washroom. Moon Goddess! Even she was sinking like garbage. I doubt Stacey could stay near her long because of her pregnancy.

Stacey quickly pulled out the perfume of fresh orange and held it closer to her. "By the way, how are you?" she took a deep breath before replying, "Yes! I'm fine, just dealing with the pregnancy symptoms." I heard Stacey responding because my eyes were busy on the person standing in front of me.

"I'm doing fine. I'm doing great recently."

I could already assume the expression on these women's faces, but my eyes were on Aaron Rodney Baccarin.

I wasn't expecting him to be Scar's Aaron. I didn't know whether he had any idea about me, but I was positive that he didn't have a good reputation in our world.

"I need to introduce you two to someone special.", Scarlett said, dragging Stacey with her. I didn't stop them, knowing that Scarlett was being careful because Stacey was pregnant. "Stacey, Derek. Meet my mate, my boyfriend, Aaron." I knew this knowingly used the word MATE so her parents would think him of her friend, but we werewolves knew what MATE meant in our world. "And today, he even proposed for the marriage.", She added, showing her 24-carat diamond ring on her ring finger.

As a human, she was moving too fast, but then, she already had an idea of our world, so she might have trusted his feelings when he would have confessed his love for her.

"And soon we will be getting married."

"Tomorrow.", Aaron spoke for the first time.

"What?" Dory asked, getting off guarded.

"Yes, Dory and Richard. I want to marry your daughter tomorrow. I can wait an hour more, but I believe she wants to spend some time with her family and friends."

"I can have a minute with you, ALONE?', " Richard and I said. But he was indicating toward Aaron while I was looking at Scarlett.

"Umm…sure!!", She looked at Aaron first and then agreed. I observed how she rubbed her hand against his arms before leaving there.

We all three walked out of her house and away because I didn't want Aaron to listen to our conversation.

"If you want to say something about Aaron, then save it. Because I know about him more than anyone else.", She shut me up before I could have said anything, leaving no room for argument.

"No, he is just concerned for you, Scar.", Stacey said, trying to create an environment where I wouldn't end up arguing with her over Aaron's topic.

"Thank you for the Derek. But instead of keeping an eye on my life, you should focus on yours.", Scarlett said. "Yeah! Sometimes I have felt that I'm being watched, and even Aaron sensed that. And I'm not sure that Aaron won't mind kicking their ass, whoever is doing this once he caught that person.", She added.

"Fine then! As you wish.", I muttered. "But are you sure about him?"

"Pretty sure!!", She smiled and then looked at Stacey. "I know that you puke at that moment sensing his scent, and I'm sorry for that."

"It's fine. You don't have to apologize for anything.", Stacey said, holding her hand.

"I know I'm going to ask too much, but if it is possible for you two, please come to my wedding. It will be held in the human world, so in that way, there will be no chance of any attack, and Aaron has no one in his life except me, so you don't need to worry about other rouges as well.", She explained.

I wasn't sure to take pregnant Stacey anywhere near any rouges, including Aaron.

"We will surely come once everything is finalized. Please let us know the venue."

'You are seriously thinking of attending her wedding?' I asked Stacey through the mind link.

'I will talk about it in the car.'

"Thank you, Stacey. And yes, that rituals of throwing necklace worked."

After talking about it for some more minutes, we left from there. Throughout the ride, I was highly silent, trying to digest the fact that Scarlett was marrying Aaron, who used to be the pain in the ass for every pack a few years back.

"Penny, of your thoughts? Please", Stacey said, snuggling closer to me. I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her forehead. "I know both of us are not fans of rouges, but we can handle that for Scarlett, right? Moreover, Scarlett said that he lived in the human for around six months. And he has cut all the ties from all his past friends and talking about family, and he doesn't have one. So, we don't need to worry about that part too."

"I don't know. Maybe I'm overthinking, or maybe Aaron is a good actor."

"Now com one! Stop thinking about Scarlett because I'm having a hard time controlling my anger, and trust me! I don't want to regret later speaking something that I shouldn't have. So, please."

"Oh! You are getting mad. It means you are hungry. Don't worry, and I have something."

"No. I don't want to eat pickles or whipped cream with nachos. I want to eat ice cream."

"Ice cream?"

"Yeah! Is there any problem with that?"

"Nope. I will get one for you. Just name me the flavor."

"Vanilla, Chocolate, Cookies N' Cream, Mango, Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Buttered Pecan, Cookie Dough, Strawberry, Moose Tracks, and Neapolitan," She said in one go.

"I know all the names of flavor, sweetheart. All I'm asking is which flavor you want to eat?"

"That's exactly what I'm telling you.", She said with a sweet smile. I stared at her face for a while, hoping she to say that it was some joke or something, but it never came. Neither did she laugh, which stated that she was serious with her words.

"You got to be kidding me, right?"

"Try me.", She said, arching her brow. "Now, bring all the flavor of ice cream because you have burnt my heart a lot today. I need something to cool it down, and this is just a small pay."

"I can't believe you.", I exclaimed, raising my hand in the air.

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#TBC