Hidden Strength

Chapter five

When I woke up again it was late afternoon, my neck was sore and that's when I remembered, he marked me, he marked me without my permission. Jumping out of bed I ran to the mirror and there it was, two wolves standing in calm water with the moon's reflection around them while their noses touched. If I wasn't so mad, I would be happy that my mark looked so cool, but I was pissed.
I turn around but he's not here in my room with me, but I just heard something down stairs. I open my door following the sound to the kitchen he's there cooking at the stove.
I guess he either heard me or smelt me because without turning he says, "dinner is almost done go ahead and take a seat."
I'm so flabbergasted that I comply with what he said. "Why did you mark me?" I ask him needing to know.
Sighing he finishes with what he's doing and brings over two plates. Placing a plate of steak, potatoes with gravy, and bacon wrapped asparagus in front of me he says, "I'm sorry I didn't wait but I felt like you left me choice, you keep saying that you're not mine and you are, I didn't accept your rejection and I'm not going to. I did something so horrible that I will spend the rest of our lives making up for it but I'm not letting you go. So you're going to have to stop whatever it is that you're doing with Tony Rush or I'm going to kill him and I really dont want to."
I just stare at him for a minute processing what he just said then I bust up laughing, I laugh so hard I fall out of my chair. Gasping I say, "you thought....me and Tony,"....and I'm laughing again, till I hear the doorbell, getting up I have tears running down my face from laughing so hard, "hold on a sec," I call out making my way to the door. I open it to the reason I'm laughing himself, "hey Tony you wont believe this," is all I say before I hear two growls, one from in front of me and one from right behind me.
"Stop that both of you," I say looking at both of them. "Go sit down," I tell Derek then turning to Tony I say, "be nice I have a feeling this talk will be interesting."
He comes inside and I close the door, as soon as we go sit at the table Derek growls out again because Tony is sitting next to me. I roll my eyes and say, "do you want to know why I was laughed so hard before?" He stops growling and nods, "its because Tony here is my brother from another mother and my best friend, whatever you were thinking isnt a thing." I say and Tony makes a "gross" face and Derek relaxes slightly.
"Now that you know that, what did you do to my sister?" Tony's voice changed more towards the end letting me know Win was also asking.
Derek looks at my neck and then back at Tony, "I marked her as mine so all the guys know to back off."
"Did you give her a choice?" Win asks, oh crap he took over.
They both noticed how nervous they were making me and dialed it back which surprised me a bit.
"No I didn't but I had felt I didn't have a choice at the time. I need Jess and I wasn't about to let go of her. I know I've got a lot of making up to do for my actions before but I'm willing to do that." He says sounding sincere about making it up to me.
Win hears his sincerity and gives Tony control again, "you may be our future Alpha but if you ever hurt my sister again I'll hurt you."
I look at both of them concerned that Derek is going to get pissed off again. He is true to his word about trying to do and be better, because he just accepts what Tony says and doesn't get angry at all.
"So what's up?" I ask trying to diffuse the tension.
"Oh mom was wondering if you were going to come for dinner or not," Tony says.
"Sorry but I have food already," I say with a smile, "what are y'all having though," I ask making him laugh.
"Umm mom's potroast, potatoes, salad, and her rolls," he says and I groan letting my head fall back, making him laugh again.
"My mom's cooking is top notch," Tony says to Derek and he nods in understanding. "I'll save you some for tomorrow you glutton," Tony says getting up. "See you later Jessie, remember be good to my sister," Tony says looking at Derek before heading out.
"Later bro remember extra rolls!" I call out.
"Glutton!" He yells back making me laugh.
I look at Derek and he has an unreadable look on his face. "Let's dig in before our food gets cold kay?" I smile hoping he's not offended. Though why I care I'm not sure, it must be the damned bonds work.
"He and his wolf really do see you as their sister," he says in wonder.
"Yes we really see each other as siblings, even though we're not related by blood, I grew up with him, my parents are gone all the time for work so the Rush family would always take care of me. Now that I can fend for myself they dont have to feed me but to them I'm not a burden so it's nice that they ask me to come eat when they dont have to." I say looking down.
"I'm sorry for how I was, I will never make you feel like that again, I give you my word," Derek says, looking into his eyes I see he's not lieing I can feel it in my heart and believe him.
We start eating our food and hes a good cook. "Who taught you to cook this is really good?" I say after swallowing another bite.
"Thanks," he blushes, "my mom and dad like cooking and I used to watch them when I was little, "dad says 'it's always good to be able to cook for your mate', my mom says 'a man that can cook is sexy' so I took their lessons to heart," he says smiling making me smile and blush because yes he is very good looking and it is a sexy quality.
We ask each other questions to get to know each other over dinner and we take the dishes to the sink, I wash and he rinses. We occasionally splash each other after I "accidentally" get suds all over his shirt front.
"If you wanted me to take my shirt off you only had to ask," he says making my laugh. "I love your laugh you should do it more," he says softly making me blush.
"Well I only laugh when things are funny," I tell him.
"What if I tickle you?" He asks wiggling his fingers.
"Pervert you just want to touch me," I say giving him side eye trying not to laugh at the look on his face.
"One way to find out," he walks towards me.
"I'm not ticklish sorry," I say not moving because I remember Tony trying when we were little and he couldn't get me to laugh at all that way but I made him pee.
Derek looks at me then he pulls me close whispering in my ear he says, "let's test that."
He gave me shivers but his tickling attempts didn't work. "Dont worry I'll find your spot sooner or later," he whispers in my ear.
"In your dreams," I say escorting him out. He didn't want to leave but I said I needed to think about all this so he left reluctantly. It's been a crazy last few days I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring and I find myself curious to see what happens.