Chapter 16 You're Still My Mate
Derek stormed out of Moore's presence because he didn't know what he would do if he stayed another minute. The tension between them had reached a boiling point, and his wolf Leo was dangerously close to taking over. His mind replayed the words that Moore had smugly thrown at him, “Marked or unmarked, I have tasted every part of her body.” His chest tightened with rage, the possessiveness clawing at his insides. He needed to find Ella. Now.
His eyes scanned the banquet hall, flickering past the guests and decorations, until they finally landed on her. She was standing gracefully, smiling at one of the guests, her aura of elegance and beauty undeniable.
"There she is," Leo growled, his voice filled with hunger and impatience.
Without hesitating, Derek started toward her, his strong strides cutting through the crowd. His gaze never left her, the sound of his heartbeat hammering in his ears. The anger he felt toward Moore still burned in his chest, mixing with his overwhelming desire for Ella.
As he approached her, those hateful words echoed again in his mind: "I have tasted every part of her body."
A low, dangerous growl escaped him, loud enough that a few nearby guests glanced his way. But Derek didn’t care. His focus was solely on Ella. Reaching her, he grabbed her arm in one swift movement, pulling her away from the crowd and into a private corner of the room. The heavy curtains fell into place, sealing them away from prying eyes.
Before she could react, he crushed his lips against hers, his kiss filled with raw, untamed desire. It was rough, possessive, an undeniable claim that he had been holding back for far too long. He wasn’t gentle—he couldn’t be, Not after what Moore had said.
Ella stood motionless at first, her body frozen in shock. Her wide eyes told him she hadn’t seen this coming. Hell, he hadn’t planned this. But the moment his lips met hers, it was like every wall he had built crumbled. He needed her, more than he had ever realized.
Derek let out a low groan, deepening the kiss as his hands tightened around her. He pried her lips open with his tongue, exploring her mouth with an urgency that bordered on desperation. He had to erase every trace of Moore, wipe away any part of her that that man had touched.
For a moment, Ella struggled, her hands pushing against his chest, trying to break free from his hold. But Derek tightened his grip, pulling her even closer, unwilling to let her slip away. He wasn’t going to let her leave, not this time.
To his surprise, Ella's resistance faltered. Her body stilled in his arms, and a quiet, breathless moan escaped her lips. Her wolf, Lila, seemed to surrender to the bond, the pull between them undeniable. Ella stopped struggling, and for a few moments, it was just the two of them, wrapped in the intensity of their shared passion.
After what felt like an eternity, Derek finally broke the kiss, their breath mingling in the small space between them. His chest heaved, his eyes blazing red from the intensity of his wolf's presence. Leo had nearly taken full control, but Derek had managed to hold on—just barely. He loosened his grip, his hands trembling slightly as he cupped her face, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze.
"Alpha Moore wouldn’t have been able to resist marking you if you both were truly in love," Derek said, his voice low and hoarse. His thumb traced the outline of her chin as he searched her eyes for any sign of denial, of her feelings toward Moore.
"Do you love him, Ella?" he asked, his tone commanding.
Ella's face was flushed, her lips swollen from the force of the kiss. For a moment, she didn’t say anything, her eyes darting away from his. Taking advantage of his brief hesitation, she slipped out of his grasp, stepping back as she avoided his gaze.
"You should go back inside, Derek," she said, her voice trembling slightly but growing stronger as she swallowed hard. "This is your welcome party; you don’t have to keep the guests waiting."
Derek took a step toward her, refusing to let her put any distance between them. She backed away, but he closed the gap again, stalking her like prey until she felt her back press against the wall. His intense gaze never left hers, his emotions roiling beneath the surface.
He took her hand, placing it flat against his chest, right above his rapidly beating heart. "Feel that?" he asked, his voice soft but laced with tension. "Feel the bond between us, Ella."
Ella swallowed, her hand trembling slightly as she felt the erratic thud of his heartbeat beneath her palm. Her lips parted as if to speak, but she quickly cleared her throat, raising her chin defiantly to meet his gaze.
"I don’t think Clara—your Luna—would be too happy seeing you this close to another woman," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm, clearly trying to deflect.
Derek’s eyes darkened as he stepped even closer, his body pressing against hers. "You are not another woman Ella," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You’re my Mate."
His words hung heavy in the air between them, the undeniable truth of the bond crackling like static.
Just as he was about to close the distance again, they heard the distant voice of Alpha Moore, calling out for Ella.
Derek’s jaw clenched, fury bubbling to the surface once more, but he wasn't backing down this time, he wasn't going to let Ella slip away from the intensity of their moment.
Ella…” Moore’s voice echoed through the hall, getting closer.