Derek paced the hallway of the Northern Pack hospital, his patience wearing thin. He had been waiting for Ella for what seemed like hours as she finished her rounds. The sterile smell of antiseptic hung in the air, and the sound of soft footsteps echoed through the nearly deserted hallway. He hated hospitals—the coldness, the desperation that lingered in the air. But for her, he would wait a lifetime.
Finally, the door to one of the patient wards opened, and Ella walked out, looking completely exhausted. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and the dark circles under her eyes only made her look more worn out. She rubbed her neck absentmindedly, clearly lost in thought.
"It doesn't help that you check on me every day, Alpha Derek," Ella said, her tone unconcerned as she spotted him waiting.
Derek's lips curved slightly. "You look exhausted," he replied, ignoring her clear annoyance. "Can we discuss things over dinner? I already booked a place, and I'm sure you'll love it."
Ella scoffed, barely slowing her pace as she walked into another ward. "What gives you the impression that I'll like it?" she muttered. "You speak as if you know me too well." She glanced back at him with a raised brow. "Well, the cafeteria here serves great food, and I don't have the luxury to go out now. I have patients to attend to."
Derek's brow furrowed. He wasn't going to give up that easily. "Okay, fine. We can dine here. It'll give me a chance to know your work better," he said with a shrug, trying to sound casual.
Ella stopped mid-stride, her expression frozen in disbelief as she stared at him. She clearly hadn't expected him to be so persistent. *Why does he keep pushing?* she wondered, already feeling short of words to discourage him. Turning back to the patient lying unconscious on the hospital bed, she decided to focus on her work instead of his request.
"This patient… his wolf isn't responding," she muttered to herself, more to avoid Derek's prying than anything else. Her eyes narrowed in concern as she checked the werewolf's vitals.
Before she could react, the werewolf suddenly jolted awake, his eyes glowing with an intense and wild aggression. With a growl, he lunged forward, his hand wrapping tightly around Ella's neck, his claws digging into her skin. Her breath hitched in shock, panic momentarily freezing her in place.
Derek's instincts kicked in immediately. His protective side took over as he rushed forward, his wolf, Leo, urging him to tear the aggressor apart for daring to touch their mate. Within seconds, Derek was by Ella's side, ready to pry the rogue wolf off her, his muscles tensed for a fight.
"No, don't hurt him!" Ella managed to shout through her constricted throat, raising her hand to stop Derek before he could land a punch. "I'll calm him down."
Derek hesitated, but the trust in her voice made him pull back. Ella closed her eyes, concentrating deeply as she harnessed her healing power from within. She placed her hands gently on the werewolf's chest, and within moments, the rogue's frantic breathing slowed. His body relaxed under her touch, and a soft glow emanated from her palms as her energy soothed the enraged wolf. His aggressive snarl faded, and soon, he fell back onto the bed, fast asleep once more.
Derek stared at her in awe. He had always known Ella to be strong, but seeing her in action—seeing the calm she could bring to such chaos—only deepened his admiration for her. His heart swelled with pride and something deeper, something far more dangerous than pride.
"Wow, you're so different now," Derek said, his voice soft but filled with admiration as he watched her intently. The way she carried herself, her strength—it was captivating.
Ella turned to face him, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Well, Moore helped a lot," she responded, her voice tired but steady.
At the mention of Moore, something inside Derek snapped. His admiration quickly gave way to jealousy. *Moore, again.* That man's name was becoming a thorn in his side.
"Moore again?!" Derek's voice rose slightly, his displeasure clear. "Do you… love him?" The question slipped out before he could stop it, his tone sharp and accusing.
Ella hesitated, her hand instinctively moving to rub her neck where the werewolf had almost strangled her. The faint marks still marred her skin, and Derek's eyes narrowed, his wolf growling softly inside him.
Derek's gaze hardened as he stepped closer. Without thinking, he grabbed her hands, pulling her toward him. His eyes locked on the faint scars around her neck. They shouldn't be there. She was his mate, and her pain—her scars—shouldn't exist.
"Coward," Leo growled in his mind, pushing him forward. *"What are you waiting for? You need to lick her wounds so they can heal immediately."*
Derek hesitated for only a second before giving in to his wolf's demand. His need to protect her—to care for her—overpowered his rational thoughts. Slowly, he bent down, his lips brushing against the marks on her neck. His tongue grazed the skin gently, and he felt a jolt of energy pass between them as he licked the scars.
Ella stiffened, her breath catching in her throat as she felt the warmth of his tongue caressing her skin. Her eyelids fluttered closed, and for a moment, she allowed herself to feel it—the connection, the healing. The pain disappeared instantly, replaced by a strange sense of calm and relief. But with it came a heat that spread through her body, an energy that awakened something deep inside her.
Quickly, she pulled away, shaking herself out of the moment. "Thank you, but… I need to check on Moore," she stammered, trying to regain her composure as she moved to walk past him.
But Derek was quicker. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to face him, his eyes searching hers. "Wait…" he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You don't feel the bond between us?"
Ella's heart pounded as she met his gaze. There was a storm of emotions in his eyes—desire, longing, frustration. She swallowed hard, her voice shaky as she responded.
"You know full well that once you accept my rejection, we'll both be liberated from this mate thing." "So pls stop pretending," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I know you don't love me, so it's easy. Just accept it, Derek."
Derek's grip on her wrist loosened slightly,as she pulled away, walking out of the ward and leaving him standing there, lost in his own thoughts.
"Do I love her? Or do I not?" he muttered under his breath, his heart hammering in his chest.
'Right!' 'It's just the mate bond,' he told himself.
But the jealousy—the ache he felt every time she mentioned Moore, wasn't something he could easily dismiss. His heart heaved with longing as he watched her disappear down the hall. He wanted her so badly, it hurt. And it was getting harder and harder to convince himself otherwise.
"I don't get jealous," he muttered under his breath, trying to ignore the truth. "Ever."