Chapter 19 Promise
Derek slammed his fist against the wall, feeling the sharp sting of pain shoot through his knuckles, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the frustration boiling inside him. He had called Ella for the umpteenth time, only for each call to go to voicemail.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” he roared, throwing his phone across the room with so much force that it shattered on impact. Not satisfied, he stormed toward it, trampling on the already broken pieces with his boot as though it could vent the storm raging inside him.
Pacing back and forth, Derek ran his hands through his hair, trying to control the rising tide of fury. His chest heaved with each breath, the air around him thick with the energy of his wolf pushing to the surface. He was losing control, and he hated it.
“Alpha…” a voice called tentatively from the doorway. It was Alex, his beta, standing at a distance, clearly cautious about approaching his enraged alpha.
Alex had returned from the pack with important news, and Derek’s agitation only worsened as he remembered the message he’d delivered.
“Alpha. The elders are already loosing their patience, they have given you three days to return with the healer. There’s trouble brewing, and Alpha Kevin is also after her.”
That caught his attention, the weight of the situation crashing down on him. “What do you mean trouble?”
“Alpha Kevin has vowed to take drastic measures to get her attention. He’s not one to be trifled with,” Alex said, his voice low and cautious.
Derek felt his blood boil. “What the hell is he planning?”
“I don’t know, but we can’t take any chances. You need to get Ella. She might be the key to keeping the pack safe,” Alex warned.
Derek stood lost in thought. The silence stretched between them, tense and heavy.
“Alpha...” Alex began cautiously, but the moment his voice broke through the silence, Derek’s temper flared even hotter
“Get out!” Derek bellowed, his eyes blazing with red as his wolf, Leo, surfaced. The shift was so sudden that Alex visibly flinched, taking a step back.
Without another word, Alex quickly retreated, not daring to push his luck. He knew better than to argue when Derek was in this state.
Derek gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the primal rage clawing at him from within. He turned his attention inward, battling his wolf for control
“It’s all your fault,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “We were so close to fixing things, and you let your anger take over.”
"You think this is my fault?" Leo fired back, his voice a low growl. "If you hadn’t rejected our mate in the first place, we wouldn’t even be in this mess!”
"I had no choice, Leo!" Derek shot back. "I had responsibilities, duties to fulfill. You know that better than anyone. I made a promise to Clara’s father. As Alpha, I had to keep my word!”
"And look where that’s gotten us!" Leo’s growl deepened, his rage palpable. "Five years, Derek! Five years without our mate, and now she’s slipping away because you think you can handle this alone. We need our mate. I need her!”
"She’s married!" Derek shouted, his voice shaking with both fury and desperation. "I can’t just take her back, Leo!”
"She’s unmarked, fool!" Leo’s words were sharp and biting. "Moore hasn’t claimed her. She’s still our mate, and you’re letting your pride get in the way!”
Derek stopped pacing, leaning against the wall, exasperated. “Oh, now I’m a fool?” he retorted, trying to shut Leo out of his mind.
“Don’t even try to shut me out, Derek. You created this mess!” Leo warned angrily. “If you hadn’t rejected her in the first place, we wouldn’t be in this situation!”
Derek slumped into a nearby chair, running his hands over his face. He was exhausted, both physically and mentally, from the constant battle with his wolf. "I never truly rejected her,and you know that Leo," he whispered. "Not in my heart.”
Leo’s anger softened, his growl turning into something more like a low rumble. "Then why are we still holding back? We need to protect her. The danger is growing by the day.”
"Leo, listen to me," Derek said, his voice softer now, pleading for his wolf’s cooperation. "I know you want to protect her. I do too. But we have to be smart about this.We can only do that if we work together. You can’t keep jeopardizing our chances by pushing her too hard. Just let me handle this.”
“Hmmmph,” Leo grumbled, still dissatisfied.
“Please,” Derek pleaded, feeling the weight of responsibility press down on him.
Leo growled low in his throat but didn’t argue immediately. The silence stretched between them, tense and heavy.
"Fine," Leo finally huffed, his growl simmering down. "But you better not shut me out again. We’re in this together, Derek. You can’t do this without me."
Derek exhaled, relief flooding through him. "Alright, I’ll listen. We’ll work together. Just… trust me on this. I’ll make sure we get her back. But it has to be on my terms.”
"She’s in danger, Derek," Leo reminded him. "Kevin’s after her, and if we wait too long, we might lose her for good."
“Kevin won’t get to her. I won’t let him. He still doesn't know that Ella is Doctor South”
“Well, he would find out sooner or later” Leo responded.
"I know," Derek muttered, his frustration boiling over again. He rose from his seat, pacing back and forth as the weight of his responsibilities pressed down on him.
At that moment, Alex cautiously knocked on the door and entered, keeping his distance. "Alpha," he said, his tone serious. "There’s more. Alpha Kevin’s getting desperate. He’s threatening to move his pack closer to the north if you don’t bring Ella back soon. He’s trying to stir unrest.”
Derek’s eyes blazed with fury. "What?”
“He’s spreading rumors that you’ve already taken the healer and that you’re refusing to share her. He’s planning to use that as justification for an attack. The other packs are restless, Alpha."
Derek slammed his fist against the wall again, the force causing a crack to form. "Damn him," he spat. "He’s trying to force my hand.”
Alex nodded grimly. "You’ve got three days, Alpha. If we don’t return with her soon, it won’t just be Kevin we’re dealing with. The other packs might side with him.”
Derek clenched his fists, his anger barely restrained. "We don’t have three days," he growled. "We have to move now."
Leo stirred within him, sensing the urgency “Now let’s go get our mate,” Leo said, determination flooding through him.