Hermione’s POV
Derrick smiled at me from across the room and I smiled back. My life has been perfect ever since Derrick asked me officially to be his wife. Preparations had begun in earnest and soon, the pack was buzzing with activities.
My father was the happiest, he boasted among his friends, and soon, the congratulations overwhelmed me to the point that I was running away.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Derrick asked me when he got to my front, startling me since I was having a conversation with myself.
“Oh, babe. Hi,” I said nervously as he pulled me into a hug and rained kisses on my neck.
“Babe, we are outside.” I protested weakly, feeling a sense of unease that I did not understand. Everything was perfect, just the way I wanted it, yet I could not just seem to calm down enough to enjoy it.
It felt like I always had to watch my back. On several occasions, I have felt like I had eyes watching me everywhere I went.
“It’s our wedding babe, why don’t you seem so excited? Are you still feeling bad about what happened in the past?” He asked me, holding up my chin and looking straight into my eyes.
Under his intense gaze, I felt my insides begin to water and my legs lost their ability to hold me up. I collected my emotions together and shook my head to clear out the fog.
“It is my wedding day, and I am going to enjoy it. Derrick is the love of my life, and he loves me so much too. I have nothing to feel so unsettled and nervous about.” I said to myself.
“Yeah! I’m sorry I don’t look so bright. Weddings are really exhausting and having to entertain so many guests has been so draining.” I complained.
“You want to excuse yourself to get some rest? I can cover up for you and join you in the bedroom after a few hours.” He suggested and I smiled.
As I opened my mouth to agree to going upstairs to sleep, I heard a shriek from behind me and turned around so fast, if not that I had Derrick to rely on as he quickly shot out his hands and grabbed me by the hips, I would have fallen.
“Hermione! I had to hear from my father that you were getting married. This is really a small wedding and not as tasteful as I imagined your wedding to Derrick would look like, to be honest.” Penny West, my cousin said, critiquing everything she set her eyes on until her eyes landed on me and Derrick.
“Penny, what are you doing here?” I asked, irritated by her presence. Ever since we were little kids, she has been a silent competition on who was better with me. Even when I paid her no mind, she always seemed to want to outdo me in everything.
When Derrick had rejected his mate for me, she had forced her mate to propose to her. They divorced a few months later, even though it was public knowledge that she still went to her ex-husband for sex.
“I came to my favorite cousin’s wedding, and she won’t even show me any gratitude. Perhaps, your husband might be a tad bit wiser than you are.” She said and winked flirtatiously at Derrick.
“You are aware this wedding is strictly by invitation, right?” Derrick asked and pulled me behind him like a human shield.
“Yes. I have one. My father sent me here to represent him. He has business in London and has been away for about two weeks now.” She was purposely slurring her words to sound seductive.
“Well then, thank you for coming and having a wonderful evening. That is if you can manage these things we have present at our wedding that is not up to your taste. Even though you have a fake Birkin Bag and your Tom Ford shades too are fake.” Derrick scoffed and dragged me after him.
I did not feel sleepy anymore in fact, I felt so energized that I was sure that dancing all through the night would not be a problem for me.
Derrick did not stop until we were in the middle of the ballroom, where a nod from him straightened the jazz players and the singer sang a slow love song.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, some of whom, I could hear their gasps of surprise or their exclamations. I melted into the arms of Derrick, he held me close and swayed gently from side to side.
“This is just to get your mind off Penny so when I take you upstairs, I do not have to do so much work in convincing you to let me eat you.” He teased and bit my earlobes gently.
He pressed his erection on my stomach and I gasped in surprise.
“What? It’s not like this is the first time you will be touching it.” He laughed and kissed my lips when he saw the look of horror on my face.
“Derrick! We are outside.” I whispered furiously.
“And so? You have been pregnant for me before, you thought they don’t know how babies come?” He teased, and I flinched at the mention of my dead baby.
“I’m sorry. That was insensitive. Bad joke, bad timing.” He apologized profusely.
Soon it was the end of the party, and we bade everyone goodnight while also ensuring that our stay-in guests were well taken care of and settled. Derrick had asked me several times to go to bed, as it was past three am at this point. I refused and insisted on helping him sort out the guests.
While I was headed to one of the rooms to give out fresh towels, I felt a familiar feeling of someone watching me. The eyes were boring a hole in my back when I turned around and caught a figure disappearing in the corner.
“Who is there?” I called out and Derrick came out from the same corner the figure had disappeared in.
“What is it, babe?” He asked me, walking towards me and taking the towel away from me.
“Oh, nothing. I didn’t know it was you” I said and smiled at him, my mind drifting back to the figure I had seen.