Chapter 11 Derek's POV
After I left Ella's home, I couldn’t bring myself to head back to the Moonstone Pack—not without taking her along. The thought of leaving her behind, married to another man, was unbearable. The memory of how close they were gnawed at me, twisting my gut.
Clenching my hands into fists, I growled low in my throat. "No, she’s mine," I muttered, gritting my teeth. "She can’t belong to another."
‘It’s your fault,’ Leo snarled in my head, his anger boiling beneath the surface.
I sighed, knowing what was coming. "Why didn’t you accept her as our Luna?!" Leo’s voice was thick with rage. "Now you’ve driven her into the arms of another man!"
His words stung, the truth piercing deep, and it took everything in me to calm him down. 'We won’t leave without our mate!' Leo insisted, his voice firm with resolve. 'We searched everywhere for her, and the Moon Goddess finally brought us back to her. She’s still ours! We can’t repeat the mistake from five years ago!'
And he was right.
Five years of regret weighed heavily on my shoulders. Five years of not knowing if I’d ever see her again, and now that I had found her, I couldn’t lose her again. "I won’t repeat the mistake,"I muttered under my breath, my resolve hardening.
I needed to get her back.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Alex's number. He answered after the first ring. "Check Ella’s daily schedule," I ordered, pacing as the familiar ache in my chest intensified.
Within minutes, he sent me the details. Her favorite coffee shop—an easy place to start. The information said she often goes there before work, always in a rush, but never staying long. It was the perfect spot to meet her casually.
I made my way to the café, heart pounding in my chest. As soon as I entered, I saw her—Ella. She was rushing toward the exit, coffee in hand. The universe must have been on my side because just as she turned, she bumped into me, almost spilling her coffee.
For a moment, she froze, her eyes widening as recognition flashed across her face. I could see the tension behind her calm facade. She was startled but quickly regained her composure, trying to mask her emotions.
"You haven’t gone back?" she asked, her voice cold and detached, as if she were talking to a stranger.
I ignored her tone, my eyes locked on hers, longing pulsing through me in ways I hadn’t felt in five long years. "It’s difficult to leave, knowing you’re here," I replied, my voice low and controlled, though I felt anything but in control.
Her lips tightened slightly, and I could tell she was irritated. "Do you have a thing for married women now?" she asked sarcastically, her voice dripping with venom.
My blood boiled. The possessiveness surged within me as I took a step forward, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her against me. The moment she was in my arms, something shifted inside me. The mate bond. It was still there, as strong as ever. I could feel it, even if she tried to deny it.
"The mate bond is still there, Ella," I growled, my lips close to her ear. "And you know you want me as much as I want you."
I could see the way her body reacted. She stiffened, trying to hide it, but I felt the connection. Her eyes blazed with defiance, but underneath, I could sense the turmoil. ‘She feels it too,’ I thought, clinging to the hope that she couldn’t fully deny our bond.
But her next words shattered that hope.
"Well," she spat, venom in her voice, "I’m not interested in dating married men." She pushed against my chest, creating distance between us. "And I don’t mind rejecting you again, Alpha Derek."
The rejection hit me like a punch to the gut, but I swallowed my anger, refusing to show weakness. She turned her back on me and stormed toward the door, but I wasn’t about to let her walk away. Not again.
"Ella!" I called after her, following her outside, frustration simmering under my skin. "I mean it, Ella! Just give us a chance. Please, hear me out!"
She stopped abruptly, and for a second, I thought she might actually listen. But when she turned around, her eyes were blazing with anger, her hands clenched into fists.
"Stop using your fake affections!" she shouted, her voice trembling, not from fear, but from barely contained rage. "Just get to the point!"
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. This isn’t how I wanted this to go, but it seemed like there was no other way now. "Fine," I bit out, my voice tight. "My people are suffering, and there’s nothing I can do but ask for your help."
I watched as realization dawned on her face, and a bitter laugh escaped her lips. She shook her head, disappointment clear in her expression. "I knew it," she muttered, her voice dripping with disdain. "You’re only faking your affection just to use me again."
I could feel my wolf growling, wanting to lash out at her accusations. "I’m not faking anything, Ella!" I snapped, my desperation slipping through. "I promise I’ll make up for my past mistakes. Please…"
"Okay!" she interrupted, her hand raised as if she didn’t want to hear another word.
Okay? I blinked, momentarily thrown off by her sudden change in tone. "Okay?" I echoed, not sure if I’d heard her right.
"Yes," she said coldly, her eyes devoid of the warmth I remembered. "I’ll agree to help the innocent werewolves… In so doing I'm respecting my husband’s wishes."
‘Her husband.’ The word grated against my very soul. She was using him—’that man’—as a shield. But I saw through it. I saw the fear behind her words, the conflict she tried so hard to hide.
"What?" I growled, my voice rising in frustration. "Wait a second—are you only agreeing because of your husband?" My fists clenched at my sides as I took a step toward her, my wolf roaring with rage. "What about us?"
She smirked, her lips curling in that spiteful way that drove me crazy. "Who would reject a noble man like Moore for someone like you?" she taunted, her words stabbing at the wound that had never fully healed.
That was it.
Before I could stop myself, I grabbed her arms and pushed her roughly against the wall of the café. Her breath hitched, and I could feel the fire between us reignite as I leaned in, my face inches from hers.
“Don't talk to me like that” I growled, my control slipping as Leo surged forward.
She didn't back down. I could see the flicker of defiance in her eyes, "Is this how you treat your potential savior?"
“The smell of male arousal” she mocked, her voice low and taunting. “This isn't your bedroom Alpha Derek”.
Her words only fueled the fire burning inside me.
I crashed my lips against hers, the kiss rough and demanding, my teeth grazing her lip until I tasted blood. For a moment, she didn’t resist. shocked maybe, her body tensed against mine. I felt the bond pulsing between us, the heat, the connection.
But then, as suddenly as it began, she shoved me away, her lips bruised and her eyes blazing with fury.
"Keep your distance, Derek," she warned, wiping her lips furiously. "Don’t forget, I’m Dr. South."
Her words were like ice to my burning desire, but it only fueled my frustration.
'It doesn't change the fact that you're my mate!' Leo roared unable to keep his desperation away.
"Shut up!" she snapped, her voice harsh as she cut me off. "Never come close to me again, except if it’s strictly for business."
And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, my heart heaving with a longing so strong it hurt. Every inch of me wanted her—needed her. Restricting Leo from taking her right then, marking her as ours, was harder than ever before. But I had to. Not yet. Not like this.
‘Soon,’ I promised myself. ‘Soon, Ella, you’ll be mine again.’