Alpha Yours, Omega Mine

Alpha Yours, Omega Mine: Chapter #23 - Claim

Derek felt restless and unable to shut his brain off long enough to sleep. He looked over at Stiles who was sound asleep and smiled. He had never felt a connection so strong to someone before and it was as exciting as it was scary. Derek rarely went very far from Stiles, too afraid someone would hurt him if he wasn't there to protect him, but he needed to talk to someone. He sat up slowly, trying not to jostle his mate and kissed the omega's temple. He chuckled softly at the quiet purr his action elicited from the sleeping fox. Derek sighed and got up off the bed, doing a full body stretch. He grabbed his phone, headed downstairs and silently stepped onto the back patio.

After he hit the call button, it didn't take long for Erica to answer, and he sank down onto the steps to wait.

"Der?" she said with a yawn. "What's wrong?"

Derek felt a tad guilty for calling her at one am, but he hoped she would understand. "Well, you're my best friend and I'm nervous. So, I was hoping you could talk me through it? Please."

"Awe. Of course. Lay it on me."

Derek rolled his shoulders and glanced up at the night sky, trying to find the best way to explain what was going on in his mind. He slowly inhaled and exhaled a few times and then started in. "The plan Stiles has is amazing and I'm proud of him. He's so smart, so brave and just all around amazing, but I'm also uncertain. I want to mate him and claim him but what if he doesn't want that?"

"Why wouldn't he want that? Isn't it part of—Oh."

"Yeah. I mean we have the soul bond; we mesh so well and he's amazing. Smart. Brave. Sweet. Not to mention that according to the tests he and I are a perfect match, but I don't want it to be because a test said so or because we have a plan. I want him to want me regardless," he admitted, his heart twinging.

"Oh, Derek. I understand. You want him to want you for you and not because someone or something told him you two are supposed to be together, right?"

"That pretty much sums it up. It's just that we've barely begun to get to know each other. I mean what if we find out after mating that we don't mesh as well as we thought we did?"

"I know you're worried about that. It's a valid concern and it's definitely understandable but let me tell you what I see. Okay? That boy liked you from the moment he saw you. I also happen to know that the person who created our algorithm is the CEO and knows what to look for in an alpha/omega match. I know that he sought you as his alpha, not Ryan. Remember that as much as the alpha chooses the omega..."

"The omega has to choose the alpha," Derek said, finishing the second part of their company statement.

"Exactly. That's part of the company's code of ethics. Sure, we use our tests and such to match them, but then they have to choose each other. It can't be forced. You've already told me that he's the perfect mate. So, you've chosen him. I'm not saying everything will be easy Derek, but he's there because he feels safe. You're the one who kept him safe when he needed it the most. He trusts you and he's chosen you. Otherwise, he would've run away from you too. So maybe it's time for you to ask him why he chose you. However, if you truly aren't ready to mate and claim him, then tell him that but help him understand why. Don't just say that you're not ready or that you don't want to."

"I should've called you sooner," he said with a smile.

Erica chuckled. "Well, better late than never. I'm glad you called. Is Stiles sleeping?"

"Yes. He's sound asleep," Derek affirmed. "Thank you, Erica. Truly. I needed this."

"You're welcome. Now go back to bed and cuddle that fox like crazy."