31

Math is exhausting.

It wouldn't be so hard if Derek wasn't in my class. His scent as intoxicating as it is, is all I can smell. It makes me want to feel our hands together. I don't even know when hand holding became such a kink of mine. But I feel like ever since I saw him today its all that'll stop my heart from ripping out of my chest and walking up to him. 

Its not uncommon for young newly mated wolves to be overly infatuated with eachother. That need to touch I felt before can be more prevalent  in some she-wolves. I guess I'm now apart of that statistic. Its pathetic...and well who knows if Derek wants a clingy mate?.

Supernatural bond would stop him complaining though. I bit my lip. Speaking of complaining. That pack he belongs to. Only now they're my pack too. Thalia's voice filtered through my head:

Death, destruction and famine that forever follows you

How long do I have until that starts to follow me around?!?. Not that death doesn't already follow me around. The thought of Aaron's face was enough to have me shuddering in my seat. I tusked and stared down at my paper. 

I inhaled more of his scent and tried not to do anything rash. Like attempt to mark him infront of every human on the planet!.

Idiot. 

And the hurt on his face...I still can't shake it. I stared at my desk and sighed. "D-derek?".

Seated near the front, he contniued to fill out his answers but I still heard his silent "Yeah...?".

I paused. "When you first found out, were you disappointed?".

"Only disappointed you didn't love me back".

I could literally hear the smirk on his face. And I'll admit it did ease some concerns. I think in the end I'm glad I didn't know. It gave me the opportunity to decide without some supernatural force that I love him. Now, its all just heightened. That love has expanded ten-fold. I sighed. "I love you now, and I loved you then".

It was silent for a minute or too. The sound of endless pencil scratches until I heard a faint. "I know".

It had me blushing from three rows away. 

Although, can I join a pack that I know has to be the root cause of Aaron's death. It wasn't us. So it has to be them. And as much as I love and will kill to protect him, what if I need to protect him from his own pack?.

To do that I'd have to join. I shook my head and whispered. "Join my pack".

I immediately wanted to take it back. 

He chuckled. "Join my pack".

I huffed. "I don't trust your pack".

I heard him tusk. "Well, I definetly don't trust your pack."

I frowned. "I don't think you're safe in your pack".

He paused and sniggered. "Right. Because its my pack that kills children in the dead of night".

I nodded, knowing full well he was being sarcastic. "We didn't do it".

He sighed and I saw him hang his head in frustration. "I know you believe that. But someone in your pack is responsible. Our pack is giving yours twenty-four hours to own up to it".

I snapped my pencil. Causing most people's heads to turn in my direction. His included. His green eyes softened while mine harded.  I scoffed deliberatly loud at him, ignoring his 'what the fuck' look, before collecting my stuff and walking out of the classroom. 

Ignoring the teacher shouting at me to come back. I have to warn them. I'd gotten as far as opening my locker only to have it slammed immediatly shut. 

Derek rose an eyebrow and leant against my locker. "What was that?".

I stared at the ceiling in disbelief. "That, was your pack threatening mine!".

His eyes narrowed. "Its not a threat. Its an oder from the Emissary".

Oh fuck!.

I could feel myself growing pale. I stared back at his now concered face. "How long until they tell my Alpha?".

Derek cupped my cheek, like he was confused about my current state of panic. "An hour ago now".

I exhaled in dread and took a step back. "We'll be punished".

Derek gave me an encouraging smile and shook his head. "Only whoever killed Aaron will be punished. You'll be fine, breathe".

Instead I sobbed. "No".

I shook my head and dropped his hand that I hadn't even realised I'd been holding. "Y-you don't understand. The only people in my pack who knew were Anna, Alec and myself. You've just exposed us to our Alpha. W-we're going to punished".

Dread washed over Derek's face. "What do you mean?. He doesn't know?!?".

I swallowed. "We were going to sort it out ourselves. My father won't even be  suspect. My brother, sister and I, we haven't told anyone". I shook my head. "Your pack did it, not ours!. And now you've given us a death sentence".

He shook his head, went to grab my hand which I flinched away from. He sighed. "It was your pack. Anna and Alec aren't exactly good people, Avery".

I clicked my tongue. "They're not killers Derek!".

He nodded to himself, full of disbelief. "Sure, how are Alec's eyes blue then?. He just born that way?. Have you seen your sister's eyes recently?".

I scoffed. "I don't need to. I haven't left their side all week".

I took a step away from him, inhaling his scent just incase. "Don't go looking for trouble when I'm gone. I don't want to go insane from some injury you can't heal from".

I felt his hand pull me back towards him. His eyes a fire of anger, frustration and love. "Where are you even going?!?".

I frowned, isn't it obvious. "I'm going to warn my brother and sister so we can find a way to get out of being punished by our father".

Derek shook his head. "No you're not. He could kill you!".

I stared up into his concerned face and shook my head. Slowly taking the time to kiss his cheek, watching the creases of worry ease off his face. "I have to, they're my pack".

I heard him swallow, his eyes holding me captive in his arms. "No, you don't have to. Not any more".

And I really wanted nothing more. Nothing more than to stay with Derek, and avoid all my problems. Walk into his territory and hide away forever in love.

But I can't.

Because his pack have just put targets on my siblings heads. My head. And I know for a fact both of them are inncoent.

The real killer is a Hale. It could even be the one whose lips are resting on my forehead. A small voice whispered 'you know he killed Paige'. 

I'd buried it down in the name of love. But now I can't over look it. Mates or not. He's still capable.

I sniffed and took a step back. I need to warn them, before my father finds them. Before one of us is offered up to the Emissary as a sacrifce to peace. "I'm sorry. But I have to help them".

He exhaled. "I'll come with you".

No.

Every fibre of my being is screaming to protect him. And if he walks onto my land anyone has a right to kill him. And they will. They won't even hesitate considering our vulnerable state. "No. Tell her. Tell Thalia we didn't do it".

I watched his eyes close while his face just looked defeated. "It wasn't us". 

He opened his eyes and stared at me for the longest while before I felt his lips on mine. I was a bit shocked but didn't hesitate before kissing back just as passionatley.

D-did it always feel this good?. I moaned as he bit down slightly on my bottem lip with a growl. It was everything. We were both panting as he whispered. "Promise me, if you think he'll kill you. If a-anyone...just run to us. Run to me".

I nodded. "I promise".

A/N

I've got a lot of assessments coming up so it might be a while before I update. But thanks so much for reading all my chapters. The amount of comments and reads is just like a big WTF moment I'm still not used to. So again, thank you and I'll try to update when I can. <3