"You Don't Know Me" || Derek Hale

48.

I slowly open my eyes, and I inhale sharply. I look down to see blood rolling down my arm. "Yeah, he was a little rough with you. That's my mistake," Kate comments. I slowly look up at her. "But you took it like a champ. Other people would be screaming and crying, but you... you're not like other people, are you?" I'm quiet. "You're not a werewolf, but you're... brave, daring, protective, loyal, trusting. You've got all the traits of a werewolf without the gifts or... curses," she continues. "It is a shame that you got mixed up with Derek. You could've been a good hunter."

"Derek is more human than you will ever be," I spit as hatred laces my voice.

She slowly nods. "If you think that a bloodthirsty, violent monster could be even a quarter human, you're just as naïve as you look."

"At least, Derek has morals, and, you know, a conscience," I state.

She chuckles. "I have plenty of morals but not when it comes to werewolves."

"Well, I hate to break it to you, Kate, but murdering almost an entire family because they're different from you... is prejudice."

"Did you really just say that?" Kate scoffs.

"Yeah, I did... because it's true. Being a prejudice is having an opinion that's not based on reason or actual experience. It also means dislike, hostility, or behavior deriving from unfounded opinions" I state.

"Hm. You're smarter than you look. I guess you could call me a prejudice, but we all have our flaws."

~ ~ ~

Kate lowers her phone and sighs. "Unfortunately, Derek, if you're not gonna talk, I'm just gonna have to kill you." My eyes widen. "So, say hi to your sister for me." Derek's quiet as she grabs onto the knob on the machine.

"You did tell her about me, didn't you? The truth about the fire?" She stands up from the chair. "Or did you?" She gasps as she approaches him. "Did you tell anybody?" Derek doesn't respond, and she glances back at me. "Do you know the truth?" I'm quiet, but my confused expression is giving her the answer she needs.

She looks back at Derek. "Oh, sweetie, that's just a lot of guilt to keep buried. It's not all your fault. You got tricked by a pretty face," she chuckles. "It happens! Handsome young werewolf mistakenly falls in love with a super-hot girl who comes from a family that kills werewolves. Is that ironic? Is it ironic that you're inadvertently helping me track down the rest of the pack... again?"

She laughs again. "We're just a little bit of history repeating." She walks over to the machine but stops. "History repeating." She looks back over at him. "It's not Jackson, is it?" She approaches him. "Oh, no, no, no, he's got a little scratch on the back of his neck, but he's not in love with Allison." My eyes widen. "Not like Scott."

~ ~ ~

"I'm sorry," Derek sighs. I lift my head and look up at him. "The only reason you're here is because of me."

"Derek--," I start.

"I should've forced you to leave with Scott. I shouldn't have let you stay. I should've shoved you out the door myself," he shakes his head.

"Derek--," I try.

"I never should've let you into my life. I should've kept you out. I shouldn't have fell in love with you."

"Derek!" I shout. Our eyes meet, and I exhale. "I don't blame you... for any of it."

His brows furrow. "How can you not?"

"Because I chose to stay. I chose to keep contacting you. I chose to go to your house. I chose to get close to you. I chose to tell you I loved you. You didn't force me to do anything. You tried warning me, and I ignored you. You tried to get me to leave, and I ignored you. You don't control the choices I make. I do," I sigh. "And I don't regret any of them."

"How can you say that?"

"Because even if she kills us... I had the chance to meet you and get to know you... I had to chance to fall in love with you. I wouldn't trade that for anything."