Chapter 124

A little bit of comfort.

Derek's POV.

Scarlett's room, I hadn't allowed myself to think about it too much because it haunted me, much like the garden outside. The room was dark except from the streaks of light entering into it from the covered windows. I approached them, drawing the curtains to one side, dust billowing in front of me as I did. I cracked the windows open to let some fresh air seep through but that didn't do much for the scent lingering in the room. Most of her items were still here because she had took basically nothing with her when she slipped away so traces of her scent lingered if I focused hard enough. If I ignored the layers of dust covering her bedside table and other flat surfaces, it was like she had never left.

"Oh Scarlett," I breathed out. Her name exiting my lips felt heavy but I couldn't help myself from saying it. I plopped down on the bed, a thrust of dust coming off the mattress as I settled into it. Everything on her bedside table was drenched in dust, the lamps, a jug, a small vase... Even the letter I had abandoned on it was still there but the paper was more grey than white now, though still in the same place, I could tell.

I fell back in the bed, my eyes fixed on the plain ceiling because I had nothing better to do. I had sifted through the room multiple times for the sake of it be there was nothing to find. I had memorized every article of clothing she owned by now because of how many times I had gone through her wardrobe, and the same went for everything else in the room.

"Pull yourself together Derek," I muttered to myself, "do not allow yourself to be weak."

Footsteps shuffled passed the door, and judging from the number of steps, I was sure it was three sets of feet. I cracked my ear open and focused, and the soft him of a voice floated through the door.

"Do you think the Alpha's going to relapse again? I mean the last time, he came here nearly everyday and stayed there for hours."

"Don't say anything out here for the goddess's sake, don't you know he can here you? Don't be stupid." A second maid scolded.

"But you're talking too, you know."

"Ugh, you are really unbelievable."

There was a soft pad of footsteps heading down the hallway, and their voices didn't come through again after some time. But I had heard enough. So this was how the pack really talked about me. They are talking about me like some mate obsessed addict. I gritted my teeth and I thought I could explode out the door right now. Yet, deep down, I couldn't blame them for thinking that way, look at where I was now, lying on her bed like she had never left. And now, I was sure those gossip mongers called maids would go to tell anyone who was willing to hear it that they saw me in Scarlett's room. And I was also sure that the news would spread like a wildfire out in the forest. I tried to imagine the look on Ray's face when he heard the news but nothing came to mind.

"I'm screwed for sure." Time passed but I don't know how much because I couldn't be bothered with looking at the clock in the room. The clocks ticks filled my ear and I closed my eyes, allowing the rhythm to take over my body and act like something to soothe me.

"Derek?" Soft footsteps padded into the room before stopping halfway to the bed. I didn't bother to open my eyes or raise my head to talk.

"Derek?" The footsteps continued, slowly approaching the bed until they stopped at the foot of it. They leaned over and placed their palm slowly on the side of my face, brushing off invisible fluff from me. I opened my eyes then, and watched as Clara's expression froze before she quickly composed herself.

"Clara... Is there some reason as to why you're here?" I asked and she regained her senses,moving her head back and forth to shake off what was wrong with her.

"I'm sorry I just barged in here, I heard you were here so I came to check on you." Her lips curled slightly as her eyes shone. I sighed because there was no way I could kick her out of the room now.

"It's fine really," I said, before she would start endlessly chattering.

"Are you sure?"

"If I say no, will you leave?"I asked instead and she stiffened for just a few seconds before regaining herself.

"No," she said, sounding choked. I had expected that. She ran her gaze over me once more then waited for me to say something.

"Come sit then," I told her, patting the spot beside me as I sat up properly.

"So tell me, why the sudden need to check on me?" I asked as soon as she took her seat beside me. She didn't say anything for a while and I resumed listening to the sounds of the clock.

"Because I was worried about you, why else? I know you've been acting strange since getting back from that war so this is the least I can do." She placed her hand on my arm, hesistantly at first and I made no move to remove it. She relaxed a little more and when I looked at her, she had a small smile of her own glued to her face.

Worried about me. Her words echoed in my mind and a warmth spread across my chest just from it alone.

"Are you okay?" She asked when I didn't say anything and I nodded. She drew lazy circles over my arm and I let her, it made me feel less alone. Ray's words echoed in my mind again and I started to understand what he meant by it

. I want you to be happy.