The Fox and The Wolf - Book Two {Sterek}

Chapter 30: So long, suckers

"Could this key be any more hidden?" I groaned in the voice of Joey Tribbiani.

"Was that a Friends reference?" Derek asked with a bemused smile.

"And this is why you're my soulmate," I grinned, moving across the room to place a gentle kiss on his irresistible lips.

"Found it!" Scott called triumphantly, and then frowned a bit. "I think?"

Sure enough he held a key in his hand. But was it the right key?

"Should we keep looking Lyds?" I asked the redhead. Her forehead creased as she considered our options.

"What's the likely hood there's more than one in here?" She shrugged confidently. "I say we take our chances."

"Don't have to tell me twice," I snorted, wiping the dust from my clothes.

Derek did the same, and I almost said 'awe' at the sight of a cobweb stick in his hair. He's so adorable I might swoon. I bit my lip and gently removed the silken web from his raven hair. The werewolf blanched at the sight of it and made a small noise in the back of his throat. He frantically started shaking out his hair, hands rubbing aggressively through the strands. His body was wiggling uncomfortably and I could tell he was putting in an effort to keep all sounds inside as he panicked.

Derek Hale is afraid of spiders.

I couldn't help it- I burst out laughing. Which made Derek immediately halt in his freak out in favour of glaring at me. I pulled him into my arms and ruffled his hair fondly.

"You- are by far... the cutest thing I've ever seen," I choked out between fits of laughter.

"I hate you," he muttered into my neck, his arms moving to return my embrace.

"You do not," I winked, before laying a heated kiss on his lips. He returned it, but pulled away before we could get too carried away.

He rose a brow and asked, "maybe we should focus?"

"Right- we're stopping a dead pool!" I slapped my forehead. "Got it."

"Let's go boys!" Lydia called from the next room.

Huh- I didn't see her or Scott leave. I guess I don't really see anyone besides Derek when he's in the room. And he was being cute as hell, so I had a valid excuse this time.

"Coming!" I called after her, pulling Derek by his hand.

We rushed out of the house with barely a glance at Lydia's mom. "Bye Mrs.Martin!" I called as the front door swung shut behind us.

Derek was on the phone with Isaac as we raced back towards Lydia's lake house. The rest of the pack would meet us there. I made a quick call to fill my dad in, who would also join us at the Martin's second residence. Derek and I had both slid into the backseat without thought, our bodies gravitating towards each other as we leaned in. My hand rested on his thigh and I let my head fall to his broad shoulder, breathing in his comforting scent for a few moments. The werewolf hung up with Isaac and kissed my hair lightly, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my cheekbone.

"It'll all be over soon," he whispered gently, doing his best to comfort me.

I was still trying to get used to this caring Derek that we all saw so infrequently. I loved it so much when this side of him came out to play. And I loved it even more that it only occurred because he was happy, finally, -and with me. He deserved that and so much more. We all knew just how much Derek cared about each and every one of us, even if he did make it difficult to see sometimes. But we'd all been together so long now that we could read him like an open book. Could read his frowns and his growls for what they really were- his love and affection.