Unwavering devotion [Complete, 18+]

CHAPTER 8: UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

"WHERE WERE YOU? YOU NEARLY DIDN'T MAKE IT ON TIME." DERRICK ANGRILY said having hurried over after the roll call. 

"I was at the clinic and there was an incident with another inmate that meant that I lost track of time."

We walked over towards our area and put our oily overalls back on over our clothes. 

"I just don't understand what could be so important that you would risk getting chucked off this service." Derrick continued on whilst shaking his head. 

"It's not that I purposefully meant not to get here late or anything, something happened that-"

"This something is the thing that you can't tell me about?" He angrily asked frustrated. He knew that there was something that I wasn't telling him about but I could hardly just blurt out that I was a werewolf who had just found a human mate could I?

"Everyone has secrets; I just don't know you well enough to know if I can trust you yet." 

Sighing Derrick responded, "I suppose that is true. You don't know everything about me either. Just please don't wait too long to tell me, okay?"

"I shall tell you as soon as possible," which was never I added in my head. It was safer for both himself and those I needed to protect that he didn't know who I truly was.  He seemed satisfied by the answer and shifted topic to cars. Starting where I left off, loosening and tightening parts that needed replacing. Exchanging the exhaust was a particularly messy job, the released dust causing me to cough in an attempt to dislodge the irritation. Dropping the pipe, it landed loudly on the concrete floor. I placed a hand against my ribs, the abrupt forceful cough renewing its pain. 

"You alright mate?" Derrick asked concerned popping around to my side. 

I waited for a couple of seconds, breathing shallowly before getting out "yeah I'll be fine," ignoring the mistaken association of mates. To humans the word mate was synonymous with friend and I suppose in a way mates are friends but the bestest of friends could nowhere compare to what was between mates. Mates were beyond friends and I had managed to find mine. 

"What's got you so smiley all of a sudden?"

"My girl." I stopped abruptly, hitting myself mentally for slipping up. 

"Yeah, you mentioned her before. How is she?"

For a moment I was confused but then I remembered how he'd caught me off guard when we had first met. 

"She's great." I said with a finality that meant that Derrick didn't follow up with any further questions. He turned away without a word getting stuck back in. I examined his back, noting how much I had hurt him. I didn't know what to say to make it better; only the truth could do that and I couldn't say that. Not long after, the bell signalling shift was over rang and we were on our way back to our block. Derrick ignored me as I tried to talk to him as this time he wasn't so forgiving and he shrugged off my hand. A hand grabbing me made me stop instead and without hesitation or looking back Derrick strove onwards. Turning towards the guard I discovered that it was Simon, with his ever serious expression increased if that were possible. 

"We need to speak to you for a moment, come with us please."

"What's this about?" I asked distractedly still looking at where Derrick had disappeared around the corner. 

"The incident in the clinic. Now come with us," he urged tugging on my arm. 

Within moments it seemed I was sat down at a metal table, firmly secured to the floor and Simon sat down opposite me. I waited for him to talk but he just continued to stare. Uncomfortable I tapped my fingers against the table, the sound resonating.