Julius stood still, his arms crossed at his chest, as he stared at Derek, Anthony and Clem blandly.
He would have asked them how his life mate was doing, but had decided against it at the last moment. They were traitors. He didn’t deal with traitors. He can always check on Ava later.
“What are you guys doing here?” He asked for a start, literally glaring at Derek especially.
The stupid Alpha has guts for sure. He thought, remembering the incident of that night.
“What do you mean by that question? This is my pack, and I can go wherever I want to.” Derek replied, shifting uncomfortably on his feet the next second when he saw Anthony from the corner of his left eye, palm his forehead as if in frustration.
“Still as haughty as ever.” Julius retorted with a scoff, ultimately disgusted.
It didn’t sit well with Derek.
He knew he had messed up, but the vampire shouldn’t be talking to me like that in his pack.
“I can’t believe you are still concerned about your stupid pride at this point!” Maru angrily snapped, putting Derek in shock.
His wolf that had refused to speak to him, had talked! Even though it was not in his Favour, Derek was still happy about that.
“I’m sorry…it’s just that…” Derek was saying, but Maru was having none of it.
“You need to grow. And I don’t think you can do that by yourself. I will make sure to speak with Agrip when we get home.” Maru stated, leaving no room for objection.
But Derek being Derek, scoffed at the suggestion.
“What do you mean you will speak with Agrip? Can you talk in your wolf form???” He asked, almost chuckling at the thought of his big black wolf speaking.
“That won’t be necessary. I will be taking over your senses and mind for a minute, before letting you go.” Maru answered, undeterred by its human half.
“I won’t let that happen.” Derek muttered to himself. It was dangerous. Who knows what the wolf would cause him to say? No, he won’t let that happen.
“You have no choice…unless you want me to surrender myself willingly to the Alkaferuc beast. Or have you forgotten that there are two beings inside you now?” Maru asked in a seemingly tired voice, obviously getting irritated with Derek’s objections.
“You can’t do that…” Derek uttered, a bit unbelieving of the matter. How could Maru allow the beast to take over? How could he even think of it?
“Watch me. I have condoned your pride for so long. Thinking of it now, if I had managed to take over your senses during your birthday party, you wouldn’t have pushed away our mate and called her a whore.” Maru continued in his stance, surprising Derek.
Derek sighed, a bit zoned out from the happenings around him, only slightly conscious of the fact that Anthony was speaking with Julius.
“You will really do that?” He asked his wolf, but got no reply.
Maru was really angry then.
“I am sorry Maru. You will take over then. Just give me a heads up before you do. Okay?” He said, finally agreeing to his wolf’s demand.
Maru was right after all. It wouldn’t have messed up the birthday party like he had done if it had been in control.
And there was the fact that he would prefer his wolf controlling him anytime any day, than the evil beast which had almost made him kill his beautiful little sister.
Worse, he still had the memory. He shuddered visibly as he flashed back.
“Derek…Derek…are you okay?” He heard Anthony call to him and managed to shake himself into the present.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” He replied. “Was just out of it for a second.” He muttered, refocusing his gaze on Julius who still looked at him blankly.
“He keeps asking why we are looking for Emma. I told him we needed to just see her and apologize for our misconduct last night, but he isn’t having it. He mentioned that he wants to hear it from you.” Anthony pointed out.
Derek understood clearly what his brother was saying. So, quickly he dropped his pride and stepped closer to Julius who never moved an inch from where he was standing.
“I need to see Emma.” He started, staring at Julius right in the eye.
“And why is that?” Julius asked, aware that Yodah was coming toward them from behind. The fledgling must have found out about the presence of the werewolves.
“I need to apologize to her. I know I messed up that night. But it hadn’t been intentional.” Derek replied.
“It hadn’t been intentional??? Was the beast in control or were you controlled with a remote?” Yodah asked, materializing beside Julius, his face clouded with contempt.
Derek had no words to say in return. The beast hadn’t been in control and of course he wasn’t remote controlled. There was just no reasonable excuse. His pack members were still contemplating on leaving, even after he had rejected Emma in the public. So, what had been the use?
He wanted to push the blame on his father who had sponsored his decision, but remembering the weak state of his old man shut him up. This mixed up with the fact that his father hadn’t forced him to comply with the decision but rather had suggested it. He had been the one that had made the decision. He had been the one that had fucked up. No one but him.
“No answer from you???” Yodah queried in contempt, still not understanding how one could utterly disregard his mate as Derek had.
“I just want to know why you had done it.” He said in a calmer tone, seeing the sorrowful look on Derek’s face, and remembering the lovey dovey interactions that had happened between the duo when he had seen them.
“I had thought it was better that way. I was stupid to think that.” Derek muttered.
But of course everyone heard him.
“Clearly. But all that doesn’t matter now.” Julius mentioned.
“How?” Clem asked, a bit annoyed at the condescending look on the faces of the vampires.
“She is gone.” Yodah answered with a shrug.