Melvina’s mouth dropped open in shock when Derek stepped into the living room, with a different look and swagger. His long hair which he always prided in has been cut. Derek was sporting a buzz cut.
Melvina didn’t know if that was a good sign or a bad one.
No one in the room made a sound, because everyone was shocked. His aura also seemed different. He looked different. Matured would be the best word for it. Melvina wondered what her son had been doing in his room, apart from cutting his beautiful hair, that is.
She took in the sheen of sweat around his muscles which were evident in the jersey he was wearing, and knew that he had been exercising, the best he could in a confined space. She wasn’t sure what this new Derek entailed, but her instincts proclaimed it good.
Melvina looked at her mate. He had the same expression with her, although she could see the flint of pride in them. Peter was pleased with whatever he was seeing. Kane was nodding. The ancient had been the one to push Derek into this solemn state, so she had him to thank. But what should be the specifics? Thank you for making my son a monk?
“Good morning everyone.” Derek greeted, with a slight tilt of his head-a bow. The greeting itself had everyone at a standstill.
Even Nathan, who had vowed to make life miserable for the young Alpha, seemed to be at a loss of words. The young man in front of him, didn’t fit the description of the one who had broken his daughter’s heart. This Alpha was absolutely different, changed. He might even like the young man if he let himself.
Someone with an enhanced stable aura like that, was perfect, could do anything, could weather any storm. But who had taught him? Or had he learnt on his own?
Agrip couldn’t help but think the same. The same questions threaded through everyone’s mind, well except for a few who knew what was happening.
Nathan noticed then that Derek was looking at him intently, as one would look at a father. Nathan didn’t like it. He wasn’t his father. There was Peter who he knew was staring at the both of them. He wasn’t sure how the lad had known who he was, but that had taken the element of surprise and misery from him.
“Nice to meet you, Prince Nathan… I hope the pack has been welcoming.”
“Yes, it has been.” Sheila said, interrupting the sarcastic statement which she knew her mate was about to spurt out.
Kane guffawed immediately. He would never get tired of seeing this.
“I’m sorry for not welcoming you when you came in; I had to get myself in order. I’m sorry too for what happened with Emma.”
Nathan huffed, and looked away, a father not at peace at what was done to his daughter.
“I will do everything in my power to right the wrongs that I and my pack have committed.”
Nathan said nothing, despite Sheila pinching him subtly, intermittently, to say something to the lad whom she has seen had a good brain upstairs at least, especially if he could achieve such stability in his aura in two days. It’s been a while since she had seen such goodness.
Derek, not pissed at all-unlike before-that he was being ignored, strolled to an empty sofa which was shaped like a bean bag, which was set apart from the rest. It was then that he saw Claire. He remembered that she was Curtis’ mate.
“Are you guys good now? Anthony didn’t include that piece of information when he sent the others.”
Anthony.
All eyes went to Anthony.
Anthony shrugged his shoulders, and leaned further into his seat. Did they think he would abandon his brother in a depressive state?
He had stayed closer in the latter’s mind all this time, knocking at intervals, waiting, till his brother was ready to talk. Derek had been ready this morning, had finally opened his mind, and he had filled his brother in-such that Derek was up to date on the entire happenings, up until he stepped into the room, including Emma’s call.
“Now, I see. You let Anthony into your room?”
Melvina’s motherly jealousy was obvious to everyone in the room.
“No, mother. He had just been in my mind, knocking and waiting, just like Shane. They had been my link to whatever was happening.”
Shane looked the other side when Melvina glared at him and Anthony.
Why hadn’t they told her that they were in communication with her son? They saw her worrying, was aware of the toll that took on her, and yet they had let her worry.
“Mom, we are sorry.” Anthony started with a sigh. “Derek demanded that it just be the two of us. He didn’t want any more voices in his head.”
Melvina snorted softly, folded her arms across her chest and turned away.
Peter made the mistake to laugh at the pouting position of his mate’s mouth. A mistake because it brought Melvina’s glare to him, and a promise of many nights spent alone in the bed.
Peter immediately became solemn, and would have fallen to his knees to apologize for his insensitivity, but for Eva’s laughter, at seeing the comical expressions on her father’s face. Her attention was grabbed by Curtis and his next statement.
“They didn’t include our story, because there is none. The only reason why she is here is because she pleaded loyalty to us all. Clem would be keeping an eye on her.”
Derek looked at Claire again. Her head was bent low in shame. It didn’t move him. Would she have cared if Curtis wasn’t a soon-to-be Alpha? He knew that she wouldn’t have. The girl would have been besotted with him still. Yet, he was relieved that she was no longer obsessed with him. If she had been, he would have banished her from the pack.
“So, what have you been up to, Derek?” Dobah asked, piquing the curiosity of everyone in the room. They wanted to know too.
“Well, I have been training my mental state. Physically and Emotionally as well. Kane has been helping me. He is a good teacher. I will love to continue with him still.”