Violet Undone - The Accidental Mate

Chapter Two

Lydia finished her brunch with Violet by discussing new plans for Derek's ascension gala. She watched Violet closely as she talked about potential themes that she thought Derek would like. Lydia was internally assessing if Violet would make a good matriarch by letting her come up with plans for the gala. Derek was coming to the age where he would need to find a mate and it wasn't uncommon for royal families to marry within their own ranks. Violet may be her niece, but that doesn't mean an arranged marriage between her and Derek can't be made out of necessity. She didn't like the idea, but Henry insisted she entertains the possibility of the match.

Lunch went successfully and Lydia was surprised at how intelligent her niece was. How Violet spoke highly and fondly of Derek, even though Derek never really showed an interest in her. Violet knew a lot about Derek, but Lydia was guessing it was because he would be her new Alpha soon and she wanted to be in his good graces. Not that Derek was a vicious person, but he wasn't lenient either. He was more like Lydia than he was his father.

Lydia wondered if he was going to actually let Violet work for him now that she thought about it. Violet was sweet and smart. She wasn't overly beautiful, but still pretty in her own way with her dark auburn hair and ocean-blue eyes. She had a petite frame that she kept in shape. Nicely rounded breasts that weren't too big or too small. She didn't wear a lot of makeup and she dressed simply. One might say she was almost elegant.

Lydia smiled "Well dear, it sounds like you have thought about planning this and having it all under control. Why don't you take over with the gala and I will just help out if you need me?" Violet stopped mid-sentence in shock. "Me? Aunt Lydia I couldn't! I mean what if I mess up and Derek hates it?" Violet sat doe-eyed. Lydia got up from her chair and walked to stand beside Violet. "Violet. Listen to me carefully. There is going to be a point in your life where you are going to have to show your abilities to be a good mate. And this gala is your chance to prove that." And there it was. She dropped the bomb that Violet had been dreading. Violet didn't know if she would be a good mate, she didn't even know who or what she was. All she knew was what she felt.

Violet trembled and swallowed the lump in her throat before looking up at her aunt. "I will try my best, Aunt Lydia." Was all she could do or say. Lydia grabbed Violet's hand and squeezed it with reassurance. "Good. Now. Let's pay the bill and you can walk me to my car." Lydia smiled as she waved the waitress over to the table.

The two women walked out of the café into the sun and continued to walk down the street to where Lydia had parked her champagne-colored Rolls Royce. Violet waved her aunt onward before turning and walking the two blocks in the other direction to her work. She was nervous about the gala planning. She wasn't sure she could be as remarkable as her aunt was. She just hoped Derek wouldn't find out about it.

A few yards from the real estate office, Violet heard the screeching of tires before she had seen her cousin's black land rover barrel into view. She stopped walking and waited for him to address her. Derek rolled down the window and motioned for her to come to him. Violet felt anxious. She could tell he wasn't in a good mood. His eyes were swirling like a storming sea. He waited inside the vehicle until she stood by the door. "Get In." was all he said and then turned to open the passenger side door from the inside. She didn't want to make him angry, but she had to get back to work. "Derek. I was on my way back to work. Could this wait?" She asked quietly and nervously tucking her hair behind her ear. His eyes flickered at the motion of her slender hand before turning his face forward and barking "Get In!"

"I guess not" Violet whispered as she walked slowly to the other side of the car and climbed in.

Derek waited till she closed the door before he sped away. Violet could feel him watching her as she sat looking down at her hands. She gathered her courage and glanced up at him. "Derek, have I done something wrong?" she asked him calmly. Her hands trembled in her lap as she waited for him to speak. She watched his hands flex around the steering wheel before he answered her "Mother says she gave you the task of planning my gala. And if that wasn't enough she begged me to hire you as my per.son.al assistant" Violet closed her eyes and took a deep shaky breath. "She wants me to show my abilities to be a good mate, and I have a job already at the real estate office." I said as I turned my head to look out the passenger-side window and waited. Derek sped up faster as he gripped the wheel, turning his knuckles white with rage. Violet noticed the scenery wasn't that of the countryside near home. "Derek. Where are you taking me?" Violet asked nervously. She sat up straighter and gripped the console between the driver's seat and hers. "You will see soon." was all he said before cranking the wheel and turning onto a dirt road.

Violet's eyes started to blur with tears as panic kicked in while she watched the unknown landscape around her. Suddenly, the vehicle came to a full stop and Derek got out. "Get Out!" he growled lowly. Violet couldn't move. She was frozen to the seat. He stood with one hand on the driver-side door and the other on the door frame. Derek closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he leaned in closer. He could smell her fear mixed with her femininity.  "Get. Out. Violet" Derek growled as he enunciated each word. Violet made a small whimpering sound as she closed her eyes tightly. Derek huffed and slammed the door violently before stomping around the front of the car and throwing her door open. Tears rolled down Violet's cheeks as she felt his heated breath on her face. He could see her shaking as she sat in front of him. He watched her face while trying to calm down. Derek reached in and unbuckled the seatbelt slowly. It was like the calm before the storm, Violet thought. "Derek Please, Mathius." She pleaded as she opened her eyes to see him watching her tremble beneath him. Then he grabbed her arm and dragged her from the car towards the trees. "Sit" he seethed as he pushed her into a large tree trunk, then walked a few feet away. Violet's head smacked into the rough bark which cut open her temple slightly. Blood started to trickle out and slowly rolled down the side of her face into her hairline. She ignored it as she kneeled down on the cold damp earth as best as she could in her dress. She swiped away the tears and waited.

A while passed and Derek had calmed himself enough to look at Violet, who hadn't moved since he told her to sit down by the tree. He watched her silently kneeling and staring into the trees. He could hear her heart rapidly beating under her ivory skin. Seeing her hands still trembling as she folded them in her lap. He smelled a faint odor of blood and ran his hands roughly through his hair before he started to walk slowly and quietly toward the small frame of the woman before him. Derek crouched down beside her and gently grabbed her chin and moved her face towards him so he could see the other side. There he saw the gash on her forehead and brushed a tendril of hair back off her face. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying and she shuddered in the cool breeze. But she didn't dare move an inch with him so close. Derek closed his eyes, he moved his spare hand to the back of her neck and leaned her in close to lay a kiss on the top of her head. She smelled of vanilla and lilacs. "Sshh Violet. No matter how much my mother tries...you will never be what she wants." How could he be so sweet and so cruel all at once? Was that supposed to be consoling? What a bastard, Violet thought to herself.

"Take me home Derek," she whispered never opening her eyes to look at him. Derek scowled releasing her before angrily stomping towards the car. Violet braced her small hand on the tree for support while she stood. She turned and walked quietly to the car. 

 Never said a word or looked at Derek as she buckled her seatbelt. Her breath hitched as swiped away more tears from her cheeks.  And he just watched her out of the corner of his eye. When she was all secure he started the engine and maneuvered the Land Rover around to leave. Looking at her pained expression he said with a dominating tone "You'll quit your job at the real estate office tomorrow. You're going to be my new assistant." for the first time since she knelt by the tree, Violet looked at him with confusion as to why. Why? all of a sudden he wanted her to be his assistant? When she didn't respond to him he reached out and grabbed the side of her face "Say Yes Violet, it wasn't a request." She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded "Yes Derek". Satisfied with her answer he caressed her tear reddened face before returning his focus to the road.