Derrick

Of course, I remember today is our anniversary! I just don’t care, or better worded, I refuse to. I never wanted our mate bond, let alone our marriage, in the first place. I even went as far as trying to reject her, but my father wouldn’t let me. For Dahlia, he morphed into a cold, overbearing Alpha to me. Stripped me of my privileges in the Pack. Promised to dethrone me as his heir. He monitored my movements like I’m a prisoner. I was basically walking on eggshells.

And Dahlia? She was far gone in the euphoria of our bond—she thought she could change me. Win my love. I’ve never met anyone who is as stubborn as a mule like her. If only she could accept the ugly truth, that my devotion lies with another woman, Camilla Primrose.

Camilla saved my life two years ago after I had a tragic bike accident in Paris. She treated me, never left my side throughout the whole month till I fully recovered. One month…one month was all we needed for us to connect, for our bond to deepen. Imagine my luck when I discovered that she is a member of my Pack, one of those few people who don’t stay around the Pack much due to handling her father’s business empire.

Camilla and I thought she was going to be my mate at the Luna choosing ceremony. Never in a million years did I think the moon goddess would choose Dahlia for me. A stranger, a nobody! Yet my father desired her to be my future Luna, all because of his spite for Camilla’s father. I don’t know why he fails to understand that, with Camilla by my side, our Pack’s power and wealth will increase significantly!

Eventually, I broke Camilla’s heart after caving in to my father’s demand. Today, she is one of the most successful artists in the city, and there’s me, one of the most miserable husbands in the world. All thanks to Dahlia.

Although by all standards, Dahlia is Luna material. She’s pretty, too. She loves to cook, perhaps how she managed to win the hearts of my Pack members more quickly. The pups love her too. In fact, I dare say she’s their favorite aunt. My wolf also fancies her, most likely because of our bond. And I can’t deny that she’s also a formidable warrior.

Her only crime is…she’s just not what I want.

Lucas cleared his throat, tousling me from my world of thoughts with his worried gaze. He was seated to my right in the boardroom, drawing the attention of the others, including the presenter, announcing our quarterly sales to us. But my best friend and soon-to-be Beta didn’t seem to care. Whatever sparked this newfound concern in him, I thought the Pack was in some form of danger.

“Let’s reschedule this meeting, shall we?” I announced, and the others nodded like obedient robots. Packing their files and tablets before hustling out of the room. As the last person eased through the door, Lucas eased out of his seat.

“Is the Pack in danger?” The question instinctively popped out of me. He shook his head, messing up his styled brown hair.

My brows knitted together. Then what was getting him worked up for no reason?

“I just got a text from Laila…Couldn’t you have handled the conversation better?”

His mate, who happens to be best friends with my lovely wife. Yeah, I can pretty much piece together the reason for his display—Dahlia.

“Today is your anniversary, and yes, I know you don’t like her much, but… a little niceness won’t hurt, you know,” his brows pinched in distress, forcing my palm to roll into a fist on the table to which his eyes noted.

“Laila said Dahlia has been crying ever since you left,” he added as if that’s supposed to make me soften.

“Good for her.” I seethed.

“Derrick…”

“It’s little compared to the distress she has caused me since invading my life!”

His chest deflated as he freed a deep exhale. “She’s your mate.”

My jaw locked from the knot that constricted my chest.

“Remember, Dahlia is going to be our future Luna.”

“Not on my watch.” I rumbled as I rose from my seat, buttoning my suit jacket.

“What else could you possibly want, Derrick? She’s perfect for you. For our Pack. The pups love her, our members do—”

“But I don’t love her!” I slapped my palms against the table, shutting him up. “I can’t believe I cancelled an important meeting for this.”

I brushed past him and eased out of the room. Of course, he followed behind me quietly. He knew better than to challenge the authority in my Alpha’s blood. The last thing both of us want is to go full on display with our powers in a place where more than half of our employees are humans.

“Sir, I got the flowers you requested,” my guard muttered as we walked outside the skyscraper where a black Mercedes Maybach was parked waiting for me. “It’s in your vehicle.”

“Great, flowers for Camilla, again,” Lucas snorted beside me.

I shot him a withering glare, “You’re not coming with me.”

“Yeah, I’d rather spend time with my mate, unlike you.” His bite was feral, daunting enough to make my blood boil against my skin. Lucas and I barely argue over anything, but when we do…it is usually about Dahlia. The sooner I become Alpha, the faster I'll get rid of her.

I chose to ignore him and enter the back seat, where a bouquet of fresh roses was already sitting beside me.

“Cami’s gallery,” I ordered my driver, who acknowledged me with a nod before driving. The journey took only an hour, and every second was worth it the moment I walked into the ridiculously large room illuminated by ample lights that complemented the spotless white walls decorated with large, colorful portraits.

And at the center of it was my woman, dressed in a black, backless, floor-length silk dress that clung to her curves like it was sewn to her skin. My smile lengthened at the way her blonde curls danced in tune with the gentle sway of her head as she gave the guests insights into her work. I didn’t need to be close to pick up the elegance in her words, and the sweetness that her wisps of lavender scent blessed me with—one of the perks of being an Alpha-blooded werewolf. Now, this is the woman I want. An embodiment of grace and elegance itself. Unlike Dahlia, who is bubbly like the world is an amusement park, too trusting for her own good.

One thing’s certain. A million Dahlias can never compare to Cami.

“You look ravishing,” I whispered from my distance with a teasing smile. Her ear wiggled from my tone, prompting her eyes to dart around till they finally found me. She brightened like a bulb, forgetting her guests altogether. She quickly gave them an excuse so she could walk towards me. And boy! She took her time making the world her runway with those stiletto heels. I could already imagine my hands latched to her hips as I thrust deep into her core, branding her soul with my imprint.

“Mi Corazon!” she squealed, “You made it.” She cupped her tiny, warm hand around my cheek.

“Now, why would I miss your exhibition for anything in the world?” I pulled out the bouquet behind me, earning a sharp gasp from her. She didn’t care about the eyes glued on us, neither did I. She simply claimed what was hers—my lips. Though I would have loved our kiss to be longer. Deeper.

“They’re pretty,” she hushed before taking a sharp sniff.

“Not nearly as pretty as the lady standing before me,” I clipped my thumb and index finger between her chin, and she chuckled like a girl getting her first doll.

“I’d really crossed it off that you would come today. I mean, today’s your anniversary after all…” Her smile dimmed at the mention of ‘anniversary’.

“Come on, Cami. You know that lady means nothing to me.”

“Still…” her chest collapsed from her sigh. “I’m scared.”

My forehead creased, her glow lost its allure further, letting worry shine instead.

“You and Dahlia have been together for a year now. What if…” her eyes peeled from mine back to the flowers, “what if she steals you from me. What if you suddenly fall for her? That’s if you’re not falling already–”

I pressed my finger against her lips, assuring her with the gentlest smile. “She will never have me. Soon, very soon…I’ll get rid of her.”

She responded with another hopeless sigh, “You’ve been saying that for months now. How long do I have to wait, Derrick? Till you have another anniversary with her? Till she has your child?”

I traced the outline of her face with my knuckles, and she leaned in closer. “It won’t be long, I promise.

My father is planning to let me replace him soon. Just wait till I become Alpha.”

“What are you going to do when you’re Alpha?”

My smile deepened, but my wolf scorned me in my core, knowing the confession that was about to roll off my tongue.

“I’ll divorce her.”

Dahlia

Everything happened so fast. One moment, I’m walking in the woods with my arms crossed against my chest, still plagued by my husband’s words from this morning. Wondering when he will return home so we can have a proper discussion on what he meant by ‘my days are numbered’. The other moment came, and my ears were drumming from howls of our warriors breaking the peaceful silence of the night. Howls that passed a signal loud and clear—we were at war.

Sirens suddenly blared around the Pack, and I panicked. Silverline Pack is relatively peaceful, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have our fair share of days when rogues go mad by infiltrating the Pack to steal. But never before have we had to use the sirens, at least since I became an official member of the Pack. Alpha Christoper had once told me the only times they’d use that is to warn our members to use their safehouses in situations of a dangerous invasion.

And that invasion was now!

My next train of thought was to run, not to save myself, but our pups. They always like to gather with their teacher, Karen, under the moonlight for nighttime stories in the woods. My breath turned ragged with each quick pace I made past the thick trees and twigs I crushed beneath my shoes. It wasn’t long before I got to the cleared space filled with the fearful cries of children, and a panicking Karen who couldn’t get the children to order.

“Dahlia!” tears lined across Karen’s lashes.

“Aunt Dahlia, roguessss…we don’t want to die!” wept one of the kids.

“Hey, hey, hey,” I lowered to my knee, wiping her tears off her cheeks with the warmest smile I could muster, “You’re not going to die, I pinky promise,” I gestured, easing the little girl as she interlocked her pinky with mine. “Your aunt is here to protect you. Do you trust me?”

She nodded alongside the others who managed to keep mum.

“Good girl,” I patted her head before holding her hand. “Now your aunt is going to take all of you to a safe place where the bad guys won’t reach you. Now we have to do that quickly so they don’t catch us. Can we run?”

They nodded again before I motioned to Karen to follow my lead. Thankfully, there was a cave nearby where one of the safehouses was built. I led and locked them in there before making my way out of the cave. I needed to be certain there weren't any other pups wandering around. But as I stepped out into the moonlight, Derrick’s Cedarwood scent hit me. Faint, but enough to tell me he was around here somewhere. And so I chased after the wisps my nose collected till I found him just meters away, coming from the other side of the narrow path.

“Oh my goodness, Derrick!” Fear flared in my voice at the sight of his ripped suit jacket and white shirt stained with the crimson shade of blood.

“Are you hurt?” Even in his breathless state, his question came out faster than mine as he held my arms.

“I should be asking you that, you’re bleeding!” My hands moved to check his chest, but he stopped my trembling hands,

“It’s not mine. I killed some rogues on my way here. Did any attack you?” His brows pinched as he carefully inspected me for any injury. Blood wooshed to my ears, hearing how much care and concern bloomed in that deep baritone of his.

“No…” I shook my head like a little child, still starstruck by this version of my husband.

He breathed in relief, “Lucas called me about the attack, and I came here as fast as I could. The pups—”

“I already took them to the safehouse–”

“Derrick!” the sharp, silky voice of a lady blared behind him, prompting him to turn back. I looked over, too, curious. There she was, blonde hair painted with blood that juggled as she hustled towards us. Her sweet lavender scent dominated the air and her eyes radiated with worry. I’ve never seen her before, but she is strong, I could tell by her aura.

“Cami!” Derrick peeled away from me like I never existed.

Cami? There was a certain tenderness that dosed in his voice. One he has never used for me.

“Are you hurt? Did you find the other rogues? What about the pups?” It wasn’t the speed at which the questions trooped out of her that marveled me, but how her hands recklessly hovered around my man. First, she held his shoulder, and then proceeded to cup her palms around his cheeks before brushing through his messy hair.

And Derrick, he simply allowed it. Everything!

“Who are you?!” My wolf nearly pushed my fangs out as I cut in. Only then did both of them pay attention to me.

“Camilla,” she curtly replied.

Did she just smirk at me?!

“She’s a member of our Pack,” Derrick butted in before I could barrage her with a hundred questions. His eyes had reverted to their default settings for me—iciness.

“A member?” I raised an eyebrow. “How come I’ve never seen her before?” My eyes darted back to her.

“She lives in the city. She was with me when Lucas called.”

“With. You?” his brow twitched, sensing the jealousy that shamelessly blared in my tone.

“I see he hasn’t told you about me, Dahlia,” Camilla interjected with a sweet smile, but only a blind person won’t see through the hollowness of it. Whoever she is, I don’t like her. My wolf doesn’t either.

“They’re here!” Derrick growled, eyes glowing dangerously golden yellow and claws out in an instant. My breath hitched as a wave of pungent odors slapped me—rogues. This one was thicker than any I’ve ever come across. Six huge men burst out of the forest, surrounding us. Their golden yellow glow glimmered one message—prey. How did they sneak up on us so fast?

No! Now isn’t the time for questions. I’m the future Luna. I’ve trained for this, conquered several rogues. There’s nothing to fear; I have Derrick by my side. Or so I thought,

“Stay behind me,” he held Camilla’s wrist, pulling her behind him. Not me. My stomach churned as acid crawled up to my chest.

Still, I let my wolf take control, giving her the go-ahead to partially shift. My claws extended with the speed of light. The tip of my ears drew into the sharp, steep shape of a wolf’s. I bared my fangs at them, but their attention shifted to Derrick the moment he barked at them. Eyes sheening with a whole new level of ferociousness itself. There was no need for a long talk. Rogues' missions are always the same—to kill, steal, and destroy.

Derrick charged at them, fighting off four all on his own while he constantly shielded Camilla. How could he be protecting another woman over me? And that was my mistake, I shouldn’t have hesitated. It gave one of the rogues the liberty to barrel into me.

The winds swooshed past me, nearly cutting through my skin like a blade. Pain fired on all pistons as my back slammed against the bark of a tree, knocking air out of my lungs. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only thing that coughed out of me. Blood burst out of my mouth too as I thudded to the ground.

“Derr—” my chords snapped. The rogue didn’t give me time to react or even catch my breath. He picked me up by my neck like I was a paperweight and pinned me to the tree. Claws deep into my skin, my pulse raging against his touch, and my bones on the verge of wrenching at his steel grip.

“Derrick!” Camilla’s scream almost burst my eardrums. One of the rogues had pounced on her on the floor, about to snap her neck.

Derrick decapitated the rogue he was battling with one swing of his arm.

“Near any of us, and we’ll kill them!” the third rogue standing yelled.

“Dahlia!” Derrick gasped, hesitant to take a step.

“Derrick!” Camilla cried again, and my husband froze. Unable to move a muscle as his eyes wavered between Camilla and me. He was thinking about who he was going to save. Me or Camilla.

“Let them go, you bastards!!” He barked. If only that threat had a little bit more confidence in it.

“Like hell we would!” the one trapping my heated air fired back. His claws sank deeper into me. My head threatened to burst. My eyes were going to pop out of my socket any minute now.

“D-der-rick…” A whimper was all I could release.

“How dare you touch my daughter?!” Alpha Christoper thundered from a distance with a couple of our warriors behind him, startling our enemies. And in that moment, Derrick made his choice. He blazed past the third rogue and hit the other one holding Camilla hostage.

My heart imploded from the daunting realization that hurt more than the blood draining out of me. My mate chose Camilla over me. That was all I remembered before I sunk in the abyss of darkness.

Derrick

“I could have died back there…” Cami’s voice came out as a soft whisper as the doctor left our ward, “But you saved me.” She laced her fingers with mine, and I responded with a reassuring press on her skin. I breathed in relief as my eyes trailed to her right ankle, covered with an elastic bandage. Thankfully, her injuries were not life-threatening; all she suffered from was a sprained ankle.

“Thank you,” she mouthed.

I shook my head slightly, “I’d do it over and over for you, Cami.” My hand slowly moved to her leg, making sure my massage was as tender as possible.

Her lip curled upward to form a hearty smile. Unfortunately, it didn’t infect me. I was battling with my own unrest inside, too. We won the war, but our losses were not small either. Our doctors have been trooping in and out of anterooms restlessly, and nurses are busy wheeling our injured warriors on stretchers to various ward rooms. Never have we faced this magnitude of attack from rogues.

And then there’s Dahlia, for some reason, her injuries are not healing. A wounded back and a deep claw injury to her neck, at least that’s what I can presume from what I saw; it could be worse. Laila has been performing surgery on her for more than thirty minutes now, and as much as I hate to admit it, it bothers me. My wolf has been restless ever since. Dahlia is a fine warrior. I thought handling a rogue or two wasn’t a problem for her. But one minute I was entrapped in fighting four on my own, and the other…she’s pinned to the tree, gasping for her life.

Maybe I should just check up on her. I won’t be able to bear it if something happens to her. Not because she’s my wife, but ultimately she’s my Pack member.

“Hey…” Cami flipped her thumb and index finger in front of me, snapping me back to reality. “Is something wrong?” Her brows creased in worry.

“Nothing,” I tried to assert with a smile, but my muscles had grown stiff. “I think I should check up on Dahlia, see if she’s fine.” I stood up from the stool, but Cami whimpered as her hand latched to her side.

“Are you in pain?” The question burst out of me with the speed of light. She freed a deep exhale that did nothing but heighten my anxiety.

“I’m fine…” she released, her words barely audible.

“Let me see,” I tried to reach for her side, but she stopped me.

“Really, Derrick. I’m fine,” she moaned.

“I’ll get the doctor–”

She grabbed my wrist, stopping me abruptly. She might say she’s fine, but her eyes were betraying her. She’s far from it!

“I just…” Her lips pressed into a thin line, trapping the rest of her sentence. “C-can you stay with me, please?” she patted the bed space by her side. “With you here, that’s all the comfort I need.”

I glanced at the door and then back at her before releasing a deep exhale. Dahlia will be fine; she’s in safe hands, that’s what I told my wolf before returning to my seat. Holding on to Cami like she’s my life source. She breathed in relief and started to draw circles on the back of my palm. No words were needed; my presence was all she desired.

The door suddenly opened, and Laila marched in with her white lab coat and bleary eyes. Although they turned irritated at the sight of Camilla and me holding hands.

“How can you be here when your wife is suffering?!” she spat with enough iciness seeping into her voice. “Her wolf isn’t healing her because of you! And here you are—”

“What do you mean she isn’t healing because of me?” I snapped with a sharp frown as I gradually peeled away from Camilla.

“I don’t know what you did that hurt her deeply, but her wolf is in pain!” her breaths furiously stormed out of her.

“I didn’t do anything!” I rumbled. She got hurt by the rogues, not me!

Her chest heaved up for a moment before deflating alongside all her fury. “Thankfully, the surgery went well. She’s still unconscious, but she’s resting.”

“Can I see her?”

Before she could answer,

“Derrick!” Lucas barged in, panting as he had just finished battling the hordes of hell. His clothes were ripped, and his skin covered in bruises, too. “Your father!”

My brows pulled together even deeper.

“He was helping some of our injured men and suddenly collapsed. The Pack doctor says he’s dying!”

“What?!” Camilla and Laila blared at the same time.

My heart skipped, and my eyes widened to their limits as cold energy ruthlessly encroached on my skin down to my toes.

“Follow me!”

“I’m coming too!” Cami interjected.

“Stay there! It’s family only!” Laila scowled, but I was too shaken to care.

I followed him immediately, my steps even faster than his and Laila's, till we arrived at the private wardroom waiting room where Uncle Bode, our Beta, was busy trying to comfort my weeping mother. Teresa, my red-haired sister, was seated on one of the chairs. Arms crossed, face red and swollen from tears.

“Where is he?!” I demanded, about to break into the room, but Lucas restrained me.

“You can’t.”

“Out of my way, Lucas!” I roared, but he held my shoulder, giving it a light press.

“Please…the doctor is still with him.”

So I’m supposed to wait here and die from despair?! On one hand, Dahlia is unconscious, and on the other…I’m about to lose my father. My hand latched onto the roots of my hair that I nearly pulled out. I wanted to tear everything down, to yell my lungs out, but I can’t. I’m the heir; I have to be calm. Composed. A beacon of support for the others. I can’t break down.

My eyes met with Uncle Bode, and his gaze did justice, passing all the words that needed to be said. My family needs me. And so, I painstakingly took deep, shaky breaths before managing to steady myself. I went to my mother first, but she didn’t bother listening to my words. She just gripped me, soaking my shirt with her tears. Laila stayed with Teresa while Uncle Bode left. As the Beta, he has to keep the order in the Pack.

The next fifty minutes were the most hellish wait of my life until the Pack doctor appeared. His tongue failed him for the first couple of seconds,

“I’m sorry, Luna Angelina…but our Alpha is old. His body is too weak to survive the magnitude of his injury–”

We were far too gone beyond reason to wait for the remaining rehearsed lines. I barged in first, and there he was on the bed, all patched up. But his breathing was slow and lacked vigor. Life was draining out of his life, yet my old man still managed to pull up a tiny smile.

“Dad!” I sped to him in a flash. My mother and Teresa joined too, stealing his attention from me. I watched both of them wail while my father kept trying to ease them, like everything was going to be alright. I couldn’t tell which one was a bigger battle between keeping my thumping heart at bay and stopping my eyes from bleeding.

“My boy…” My father finally reached for me, and I clasped onto his hand with mine.

“D-a-dad…” Just that one word and his waning warmth made me lose the battle and let my lashes get soaked.

“How is Dahlia?” he strained to ask.

“She’s–she’ll be fine. She’s in good hands,” I batted my lashes, and he grinned.

“Your old man has lived long enough, don’t you think?” if this was his attempt at a joke, then it hit the sore spot for me.

“Don’t! Don’t leave us this way…” I shook my head. “Not like this!”

“Promise me,” My father’s grip tightened. “Promise me that you and Dahlia will always protect the Pack.”

“No…no…no…Dad…” I winced. I don’t want to make a promise I know I can’t keep.

“That both of you will never leave each other…”

“Dad!” More tears flooded out of me. Even in his last breaths, he’s still enforcing Dahlia on me.

“That you will always love each other…”

I nodded slowly, but it wasn’t convincing enough for our old man.

“I promise…” my voice dropped low, it almost couldn’t be heard by the others except him. He shot me his widest grin before heaving in relief.

I’m sorry, Dad. But I can’t keep this one. My mind is made up, Cami will be my Luna.